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MEMOIR 



OF THE 

Kev. JOSEPH W. BARE. 



BY THE 

Rev. tit P. SWIFT, D. D. 



A NEW EDITION, 

BE VISED AND ADAPTED TO SAEBATH-SCEOOLS. 



PHILADELPHIA: 




PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION. 
1854. 




Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1854, by 

A. W. Mitchell, M. J)._ 

In the office of the Clerk of the District Court for the Eastern Dis- 
trict of Pennsylvania. 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 

CHAPTER I. 

[ntroductory — Barr no common character 
— testimony of Drs. Alexander and Mil- 
ler, and Rev. Mr. Bradstreet 9 — 13 

CHAPTER II. 

Birth — parentage — value of a pious mother 
— apprenticed to a carpenter 13 — 18 

CHAPTER III. 
A mother's prayers — conviction of sin — 
meditates self-destruction — obtains a hope 18 — 27 

CHAPTER IV. 

Self-distrust — makes a profession of reli- 
gion — varying experience 27 — 36 

CHAPTER V. 
Thoughts turned to the ministry — com- 
mences his studies — works for his own 
support • . • 36 — 44 

CHAPTER VI. 
Enters Hamilton College — teaches in the 
Sabbath-School — goes to Utica in search 
of work — in a strait — returns to College 
—takes charge of a school 44 — 78 

(5) 



6 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 

CHAPTER VII. 
Goes to Western Reserve College — labours 
in the Sabbath-School and temperance 
cause — a revival — graduates — affecting 
parting with his Sabbath scholars 78 — 97 

CHAPTER VIII. 
Goes to Andover Seminary — works and 
studies — enters Princeton Seminary- — de- 
votes himself to the missionary cause . . . 97 — 110 

CHAPTER IX. 

Agrees to go to Africa on a missionary ex- 
ploring tour — visits Pittsburgh — farewell 
visit to his friends— goes to Norfolk to 
embark — visits Richmond — attacked by 
cholera— the closing scene 110 — 132 



PREFACE. 



"I wish all the good men we read about, 
did not live so far off," said a Sabbath-school 
scholar, as she was reading the life of a 
Scottish missionary. It is certainly desira- 
ble that examples of Christian devotion and 
self-sacrifice furnished by the American 
Church, should be set before the young. To 
this end, the Board of Publication have, 
with the cordial consent and approbation of 
the Rev. Dr. Swift, caused the very inter- 
esting materials contained in his life of Jo- 
seph W. Barr to be presented in a form suit- 
able for Sabbath-school libraries. We trust 
that by this means, he may long speak and 
stimulate others to engage in the work to 
which all his energies were devoted. 

(7) 



MEMOIR. 



CHAPTER I. 

My young friend, you love to read the lives 
of great men. It is well for you to do so. 
It may rouse you to exertion — may lead you 
to perform great actions yourself. Reading 
the lives of Alexander, of Caesar, and of 
Charles of Sweden, has caused many young 
men to become daring soldiers. Reading 
the lives of Hampden, of Washington, and 
of Jay, has led many to imitate their lofty 
patriotism. Reading the lives of Brainerd, 
and Martyn, and Gordon Hall, has caused 
many to become missionaries of the cross. 

Examples of greatness unallied with good- 
ness are, of course, not to be followed. 
Man was made to do good, as truly as he 
was made to breathe. He is truly great 
2 



10 MEMOIR OF 

only in proportion as the image of God is 
restored to his soul. 

There is such a thing as the praise of 
men, and there is such a thing as the praise 
of God. We read of some who loved the 
praise of men more than the praise of God. 
It is certain that the latter is by far the 
most valuable. The objects on which these 
two kinds of praise are bestowed, are very 
difiFerent. Great and splendid deeds, irres- 
pective of their moral character, are often 
praised by men, but God never praises 
actions which are not good. The great men 
whose lives we should study, and whose 
examples we should follow, should be those 
who are great in the sight of God. 

To be great in the sight of God, it is not 
necessary that a man's great plans should 
be successful, that is, successful in the eyes 
of men. The works which it is in a man's 
heart to do, are, in the view of the Lord, 
often regarded as done. 

The young man whose life and character 
I propose to commend to your notice, was 



J. W. BARE. 



11 



not widely known, and did not receive a 
large share of the praise of men; but he 
was great in the sight of the Lord, and 
his example is worthy of your careful imita- 
tion. 

I will set before you the testimony of 
several eminent men, and you will be con- 
vinced that it is no common-place character 
to which I would call your attention. 

The Rev. Dr. Archibald Alexander said, 
"How richly he was endowed, and how well 
qualified for this (the missionary) work, I 
leave to others to describe. I will only say 
in one word, that, take him all in all, Joseph 
Barr was not inferior to any man with 
whom I have been acquainted, in the sub- 
stantial qualifications of a good missionary." 

The Rev. Dr. Samuel Miller said, "I 
know not that we ever had in this Seminary 
a youth more lovely or beloved ; more adapt- 
ed to command respect and inspire confi- 
dence.' , 

The Rev. Mr. Bradstreet said, " Had his 
life been spared, I doubt not he would have 



12 



MEMOIR OF 



trod closely in the steps of Schwartz, Van- 
derkemp, David Brainerd, and Gordon Hall. 
I have been personally acquainted with a 
large number of those beloved men whom 
the American Board have sent as heralds of 
salvation to the heathen world, but never 
have I seen one in whom the missionary 
spirit burned with an intenser or holier 
ardour than in the lamented Barr ; nor one 
who possessed a larger share of the requisite 
qualifications for the work." 

You will not fail to be interested in the 
incidents of the life of one respecting whom 
such high testimony is borne. It is not the 
life of one who lived in a distant land, but 
of one who lived, prayed, toiled, and tri- 
umphed in our own land, and amid scenes 
with which many of you are familiar. The 
examples of those whose circumstances were 
most similar to our own, are the ones most 
likely to profit us. 

I wish you to read the following pages, 
not for amusement, but for improvement. 
The habit of reading for amusement seldom 



J. W. BARE. 



does good, and very often does harm. It 
often does harm even when the books read 
are good. The reader does not fix his atten- 
tion on what he is reading, but allows it to 
wander, unless it is attracted by the interest 
of the page. In consequence, he loses power 
over his attention. When he needs to fix it 
on an argument, he is unable to do so. Of 
course he is unable either to understand 
reasoning, or to reason himself. 

Whatever book you take up, fix your 
whole attention upon it, and read it thor- 
oughly, and let profit, instead of pleasure, be 
your object. 



CHAPTER EE 

Joseph Barr was born July 22d, 1802, in 
Liberty township, Trumbull county, Ohio. 
He was the fourth child of his parents. 
From his infancy he enjoyed good health. 
His natural temperament was cheerful, and 
his disposition affectionate. There are no 
2* 



14 



MEMOIR OF 



Striking incidents known respecting his early 
life, except those relating to the course pur- 
sued by his mother towards him and her 
other children. She was a devoted woman. 
Her chief care was to teach her children the 
fear of the Lord. From their earliest infan- 
cy, they were the subjects of her earnest 
prayers, and the objects of her deepest soli- 
citude. No opportunity was neglected of 
impressing religious truth upon their minds, 
and of opening their hearts to its influence. 
She was in the habit of taking one, or some- 
times two of her children at a time, and retir- 
ing to some secluded spot to converse with 
them respecting their souls, and to pray for 
them with strong cries and tears. 

Deep impressions were thus made upon 
their minds. Near the close of his life, 
Joseph, in the last interview with his father, 
remarked, that it seemed to him that he 
could feel his mother's hand pressing upon 
his head, as when in his childhood she offered 
her fervent prayers in his behalf, and be- 
stowed upon him her blessing. 



Ji W. BABR. 



15 



When that precious woman was about to 
breathe her last, she caused herself to be 
raised up in her bed, and her children to be 
brought around her. She then, with her 
last breath, most affectionately and solemnly 
charged them to take care of their souls, and 
to prepare to meet her at the right hand of 
God. Then turning to her husband, who 
was a minister, she said, "Be faithful, and 
especially warn parents of their duty to their 
children. " She then offered an appropriate 
and affecting prayer, and a few moments 
after fell asleep in Jesus. 

Joseph was then about ten years of age. 
Such was the mother who was taken away 
from him. It was a great loss, but was it 
not a great blessing to have had such a 
mother? Was it not better to be the son of 
such a mother, than to be the son of a queen 
or empress? 

A number of children were spending a 
Saturday afternoon together. After having 
become fatigued with play, they sat down 
under the shade of an apple-tree, and began 



16 



MEMOIR OF 



to express their wishes, that is, one after an- 
other told what he most desired to have. 

"I wish I had a large new house,' 7 said 
one. 

"I wish I had a large purse of gold," said 
another. 

" I wish I was as great a man as General 
Washington," said a third. 

All had expressed their wishes except a 
pale-faced, sad looking boy. "And what do 
you wish for?" said one to him. 

H I wish I had a mother," said the boy, in 
a tone which brought tears to the eyes of 
several kind-hearted girls. The poor lad 
had never known a mother's tenderness and 
care, for she had died when he was a babe. 

Have you ever thanked God that you have 
a mother, and a pious mother? What earth- 
ly blessing could God bestow upon you bet- 
ter adapted to awaken your highest grati- 
tude and praise ? 

The parents of Joseph Barr, while rich in 
faith, were poor with respect to this world's 
goods. Mr. Barr was not able to give to 



J. W. BARE. 



17 



any of his children anything more than the 
ordinary advantages of a limited common- 
school education. He was a minister, and 
was called to labour in circumstances of self- 
denial and poverty. It would have rejoiced 
his heart to have given his children a good 
education, and if he had engaged in some 
other employment, he could no doubt have 
obtained the means of doing so. But his 
Master had called him to preach the gospel, 
and had seen fit to appoint to him the path 
of self-denial, and he cheerfully pursued it. 

He was careful to carry out the system of 
religious training for his children which had 
been begun by their sainted mother. He 
laboured to store their minds with truth, and 
to apply it to their consciences. No imme- 
diate effect seemed to follow, but afterwards 
the father's labours were repaid a thousand 
fold in the devoted and useful life of his be- 
loved Joseph. 

Joseph remained at home till he was six- 
teen years of age, when he was apprenticed 
to a carpenter. This removed him from the 



18 



MEMOIR OF 



paternal roof. Soon afterwards his father 
removed to another place about seventy 
miles distant. From that time there was 
little intercourse between them, except by 
letters. 



CHAPTER III. 

Joseph continued to prosecute with fidelity 
the labours of his calling, but was not care- 
ful to serve that God to whom he had been 
dedicated by his parents. At times, he en- 
deavoured to forget the truths and efface 
the impressions which they had made upon 
his mind, but without success. Conscience 
would reprove him for his attempt to find 
enjoyment in sinful indulgences, and thus 
there was no peace to his soul till he was 
twenty-one years of age — the time of his 
hopeful conversion. 

Of that event, the following is an account 
furnished by himself to a friend. 



J. W. BARK. 



"Among my very first recollections, is 
the image of my sainted mother. We lived 
at the West, in what is now the flourishing 
State of Ohio, but was then a howling wil- 
derness. My father was a missionary, and 
my mother was one every way fitted to be 
his helper. He was gone from home much, 
in search of the scattered sheep, and had 
less opportunity to impress his character 
upon me. But my mother! — she was an 
angel to me. We lived in a log-house, and 
had but one large room. Of course she had 
no closet there ; but there was a beautiful 
grove a little back ; and there, as early as I 
can remember, this mother led me by the 
hand, and made me kneel by her side, while 
she prayed aloud for my father and for me. 
At first I hardly understood it, but soon 
learned that God, who dwells far, far above 
those high trees, could hear her sweet voice, 
and was hearkening to her. She used sta- 
tedly to lead me there, and always laid her 
right hand on my head when she prayed, 
and an awful feeling always came over me. 



20 



MEMOIR OF 



She never omitted this practice till her 
death. She died when I was nine years old, 
and was buried near by. During the most 
wicked periods of my life, I have never for- 
gotten these impressions. The grove is cut 
down now, but the spot seems a hallowed 
spot. Even since the grove has been gone, 
and since my mother's grave has become 
level with the contiguous ground, I have 
stood on this spot, and her meek image 
seemed to be before me, and her voice, trem- 
ulous with feeling, seemed to come again to 
my ears, and I have been chained by the 
remembrance of her faithfulness and her 
love. No legacy could she have left me half 
so precious, nor could her features have been 
more vividly and accurately impressed upon 
canvass, than they are upon my memory. 

" Many years after my mother's death, I 
was in the heyday of youth, and in a course 
of sin truly dreadful. The restraints of 
conscience were broken, and there was lit- 
tle to check me except my early education. 
My mother had died when I was a child, 



J. W. BAER. 21 

and I was now too far off from my father for 
him to reach me, except by his prayers. I 
remember being one night at a ball, whither 
I went, as I should then have said, for ra- 
tional and innocent amusement. I was in- 
troduced to a partner, a young lady from a 
distant section of the country. After the 
dance, for which we were partners, I entered 
into conversation with her concerning the 
region from which she came. She gave me 
many interesting particulars of that then 
newly settled place, and among other things, 
mentioned the sickness of her father, and 
the kind and continued attentions of a Mr. 
Barr, a missionary, stating that Mr. Barr 
had been to see her father very frequently, 
and that she was much attached to him. 
She knew not my name. I replied, 6 That 
Mr. Barr, the missionary — is — my father!' 
She started as if from an adder. 6 Your 
father ! — he your father ! What would he 
say, if he knew you were here?' Had a 
dagger been thrust into me, I could not have 
felt the wound more deeply. It spoiled the 
3 



MEMOIR OF 



evening; it ruined my peace ; and though I 
know not that it can be said that it was the 
means of my awakening, yet I am confident 
it planted a thorn in my conscience, which 
was never taken out till I had bowed to God 
with a broken heart. The giving and receiv- 
ing of this keen reproof were both, as it were, 
involuntary, and show, that neither of our 
consciences could approve of the business of 
that evening, if compelled to speak out with- 
out restraint. 

" A few days after the ball, I was present 
at a communion. At the table many of my 
near friends were found. The scene and the 
thoughts of a future eternal separation af- 
fected me greatly. The sermon, too, reached 
my conscience, and I might, at the close of 
the services, be said to have been under 
strong convictions for sin. The same day a 
devoted deacon was accidentally, or rather 
providentially, thrown in my way. He be- 
gan to address me on the subject of my sal- 
vation, without knowing anything of my 
previous history, or of my feelings at that 



J. W. BARR. 



23 



time. Then my heart began to rise with a 
bitterness never known before. I reproach- 
ed him, pointed him to inconsistencies in the 
Church, raved like a madman, and while my 
conscience was grinding me like a mill-stone, 
I still* kept pouring out my invectives. He 
bore it with meekness — perfectly unmoved, 
and by his gentleness, held up a shield which 
made every dart I threw recoil upon myself. 
His Christian meekness was too much for 
me. I rose up and left him. If he had only 
given one retort, shown one angry feeling, it 
would have relieved me ; but no — I could find 
no handle. I went out into a wood, smart- 
ing under the wounds which I had been giv- 
ing myself, and when I could stand under it 
no longer, returned, told the deacon my 
situation, asked his pardon, and begged his 
prayers. Truly, as Henry Martyn beauti- 
fully says, ' the power of gentleness is irre- 
sistible.' 

"I had now been under deep and pungent 
conviction of sin for more than three weeks. 
I could not pray ; I could not feel sorry for 



24 



MEMOIR OF 



sin, except as it must bring me to unspeak- 
able ruin. There seemed to be no mercy 
for me. The heavens were brass, the earth 
was iron, and I was fast preparing to look 
up and curse God. Perfectly sensible of my 
situation, perfectly convinced that I deserved 
hell, I could not feel regret or humbled. 
Every feeling of my soul was deep enmity 
to the character and government of God. 
At last, after struggling with a terrified 
conscience and the strivings of the Spirit of 
God, I determined to take my own life ! It 
was not the result of a paroxysm of despair, 
but the cool, deliberate determination of one 
who dares throw himself upon the 'thick 
bosses of the Almighty's buckler.' After 
coming to this determination, I selected my 
time and place. Not far from me was the 
river, and a little lower was a great fall. 
Thither I went, resolved to return no more. 
The waters gathered themselves together 
into a narrow channel, and after whirling 
round several times, as if afraid to plunge, 
they were poured headlong over a time-worn 



J. W. BARR. 25 

rock, and fell forty feet or more, into a 
large basin beneath. Just by the fall was a 
rock projecting out, and even hanging over 
this basin. On that rock I placed myself 
preparatory to the deed. I looked down 
into the great basin, forty feet below me, 
and there the fallen waters were boiling and 
foaming up, as if indignant at being thus 
cast down: — f fit emblem, I thought, of the 
raging — the helpless raging of the wicked in 
the awful pit beneath !' Above these waters, 
a cloud of spray was rolling itself up towards 
the heavens : — ' fit emblem, I again thought, 
of the smoke of their torment which ascend- 
eth up for ever and ever ! But I will know 
the worst which God can inflict upon me. I 
will plunge in ; in five minutes I shall know 
what hell is, and what is to be my situation 
for eternity !' I drew myself back to take 
the plunge. There was no faltering — no 
shrinking of a single muscle. But just as I 
was in the act of leaping, the hand of Om- 
nipotence seemed to be laid upon me. Every 
nerve seemed to be paralyzed, and every 
3* 



26 



MEMOIR OF 



bodily function to fail. A cold shivering 
came over me, and I had not the strength of 
a child. I turned my face ; the beautiful 
sun was shining, and for the first time the 
thought came, 6 perhaps there may be mercy; 
I will seek it till God takes my life !' 

" A gleam of hope shone across my wretch- 
ed soul. By degrees, I was brought to see 
that Jesus Christ came into the world to 
save. I trust I was able to cast myself at 
the foot of his cross, and cry for mercy. 
On him alone I trust for salvation. In him 
I find an all-sufficient Friend." 

In a letter to his father, he says : — " I 
think I have some evidences that my hope 
is grounded upon the Scriptures of truth. 
Some of these I will now state to you. May 
God assist me to write from the heart! 
They are as follows : 

" A desire to love God. I have not the faith 
of assurance to say I do love him. A desire to 
regulate my conduct by his holy word ; to 
take it for the man of my counsel. I think 
I take pleasure in reading it; and that it 



J. W. BARE. 



27 



seems altogether new to me. Places that 
formerly seemed to clash, now appear plain 
and easy to be understood. Christ appears 
precious. I take pleasure in the ordinances 
and duties of religion, and in the society of 
Christians, especially such as are engaged in 
the cause. I hate sin, as truly odious in the 
sight of God. It gives me pain when guilty 
of committing it. These are some of the 
evidences which I think I possess. How far 
xny conduct will agree with my feelings is 
yet to be seen." 



CHAPTER IV. 

You have seen the process by which Joseph 
Barr found mercy. He cast himself at the 
foot of the cross. He cried for mercy, and 
he trusted in Christ alone for salvation. You 
have, no doubt, often felt troubled on ac- 
count of your sins. You mean to secure 
pardon for them before you die. Have you 
a clear idea of the only way in which par- 



28 



MEMOIR OF 



don can be secured? You will perhaps 
answer, It must be sought through Christ. 
True, but have you a clear idea of the man- 
ner in which it is to be sought through 
Christ? Do you understand, in all its sim- 
plicity, the way of salvation ? Plain as are 
the directions of the Scriptures, I fear they 
are often misunderstood by anxious sinners. 
The way is so plain that it is often on that 
very account overlooked. 

You feel that you are a sinner; you feel 
that you are justly condemned by God's law. 
You feel that you cannot atone for your past 
guilt, and cannot render a perfect obedience 
for the future. You feel that you need de- 
liverance from guilt, and a perfect righteous- 
ness wherewith to appear before God. What 
shall you do ? You must ask Christ to re- 
move your guilt, and to clothe you in his 
righteousness. You must do so with perfect 
confidence, because he has promised that he 
will do it and more, for every sinner who 
feels that he is lost, and who desires to be 
saved. You are to cast yourself upon his 
mercy just as you are, for you cannot make 



J. W. BARR. 



yourself any better, and rely upon him to 
give you all that you need. 

I am next to give an account of Joseph 
Barr's views in relation to making a profes- 
sion of religion. He did not act hastily in 
that important matter. He was hopefully 
converted in the fall of 1823. He soon 
began to reflect on the duty of uniting with 
the Church. In April, 1824, he writes thus 
to a friend : 

" The more I contemplate the subject of 
openly professing my faith in Jesus, the more 
plain does it appear my duty; and, also, the 
more unworthy and unfit do I appear thus to 
do. But I never can make myself any bet- 
ter, and it is only in the way of duty that we 
can expect assistance from Him who is able 
to give it. I hope you will remember me, 
my friend, w T hen you draw near to the throne 
of grace, that I may grow in grace and in 
the knowledge of the truth, and be enabled 
so to walk as not to give occasion to the 
world, or offence to the Church." 

In the same letter, he gives an account of 
some of the means which he took to grow in 



30 



MEMOIR OF 



grace. Some persons^ who have not been well 
instructed in things pertaining to salvation, 
think that the work is in a measure done, 
when evidence has been obtained of the con- 
version of the soul. They suppose that they 
are then safe, and have but little more to do. 
Now, in truth, conversion is but the com- 
mencement of a life of active devotion to the 
will of God. It is like the commencement 
of a journey — it is setting out upon a jour- 
ney to Mount Zion, and effort must be put 
forth daily to make progress. As a man on 
a journey to a particular city cannot make 
progress unless he puts forth effort and 
makes use of means, so the Christian travel- 
ler cannot make progress without effort. 

Young Barr well knew that he had some- 
thing to do when he entered Christ's service 
— something to do for his own soul and for 
the souls of others. He writes : 

" I have been reading Doddridge on the 
Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul. 
He is a very close writer, and gives a good 
deal of good advice, w 7 hich I hope I may 
profit by. I have also been reading Oboo- 



J, W. BARK. 



31 



kiah, and his zeal and engagedness for the 
cause of Christ is enough to make Christians 
of this enlightened land ashamed. I have 
the privilege of reading the Missionary 
Herald. The accounts of the heathen given 
by the missionaries, and their affectionate 
appeals to Christians on their behalf, have 
made a deep impression on my mind; so 
much so, my friend, that I feel almost will- 
ing to say, 6 Here am I, send me.' 

"You may ask, why feel more for the 
heathen than for those with whom I live and 
am acquainted. The reason is this: The 
most of these have the means of grace in 
their power, and it is because they will not, 
that they do not profit by them ; while the 
heathen, sitting in the region and shadow of 
darkness, are perishing for lack of know- 
ledge; for how shall they believe on him of 
whom they have not heard? that I could 
feel for both more than I do, and could bear 
them more fervently on my mind to the 
throne of our Father in heaven. 

"But it is now late, and I must finish. 
Though, my friend, I have not openly pro- 



82 



MEMOIR OF 



fessed that the vows of the Most High are 
on me, yet I trust I own them in secret, and 
look forward, with some degree of anxiety, 
to the time when I shall be permitted to own 
them in public.' ' 

Soon after writing the foregoing letter, he 
was received into the church in Euclid, Ohio. 
He resolved, in reliance upon divine grace, 
to maintain a walk and conversation con- 
sistent with the solemn vows he had taken 
upon him. He was active and faithful in 
exhorting his friends and former companions 
in folly and sin, to forsake their evil ways 
and turn to the Lord. His uniform zeal and 
consistency of deportment gave him great 
influence with his former associates, and 
commended him to the consciences of all 
who knew him. 

But we are not to suppose that this was 
done without effort, and that it followed his 
profession of religion as a matter of course. 
When we see a man who maintains, so far as 
we can see, a close walk with God, we are 
apt to think that there is something in his 
circumstances peculiarly favourable to a life 



J. W. BARR. 



33 



of piety. We think he is not liable to those 
seasons of coldness and depression, which 
so frequently come over us. But if we could 
see his heart, we should see that it differs 
from ours, only in the fact that it is kept with 
greater diligence. 

Joseph did not maintain his consistency 
and make progress without meeting with 
the difficulties common to all. In a letter 
written a few months after he joined the 
church, he says: "With regard to my own 
situation, I know not what to write. Some- 
times cold and stupid, to a great degree ; at 
others, engaged; but at all times, more cold 
and lifeless than I ought to be. But still I 
hope, my friend, that on the whole, I am 
making some progress in the divine life. 
The Bible appears more valuable, and I am 
enabled to draw more instruction from it 
than formerly. The deep depravity of my 
own heart becomes more visible, so that, at 
times, I am brought to loathe and abhor 
myself ; also, I feel an increased desire for 
the sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit, 

and for the prosperity of Zion. These last 
4 



84 



MEMO IE OF 



mentioned desires have induced me, goon 
after I came back from E., to devote a few 
minutes, every noon, to prayer, in reference 
to them. And, my friend, I hope I may 
have your prayers that the Lord would pour 
out his Spirit upon me, and grant me more 
the spirit of prayer, for I need it much.' 5 

In another letter he says: " Even now, I 
feel at an awful distance from God. It 
costs me many tears, and hard wrestling in 
prayer, to return. Such is the awful de- 
pravity of the heart, still I wander. Well 
can I adopt the words of the poet: ' And 
shall I live at this poor dying rate ; my love 
so cold;' and, may I not add, my faith so 
weak, so unbelieving of his promises? But 
there are times (though seldom lately) when 
the clouds of darkness break away, and the 
Sun of Righteousness displays his cheering 
rays. how sweet are such precious sea- 
sons to the soul burdened with sin ! Then 
we resolve never to forsake our God more, 
' but ere one fleeting hour is gone' we mourn 
and lament our wandering. Such are a few 
of the feelings of my heart/' 



J. W. BARR. 



85 



In the same letter he expresses the opin- 
ion that if he shall be useful in future life, 
much of that usefulness would be owing to 
the fact that his pastor, the Rev. Mr. Brad- 
street, had advised and urged him to be 
faithful and diligent in the first setting out 
in his Christian life. 

In religion, as well as in other things, it 
is of the utmost importance that we start 
right. Those who, like Mr. Bradstreet, are 
instrumental in causing young converts to 
start right on their Christian course, are the 
means of doing great good, not only to the 
individuals immediately concerned, but to 
others, through their influence. 

Through want of the necessary knowledge 
and direction, not a few who are really con- 
verted, fail to take a right course at first, 
and, in consequence, make very slow pro- 
gress, and do very little good. Hence the 
importance of possessing religious know- 
ledge. Hence the duty of parents and 
teachers to store the minds of the young 
with religious truth, even though they may 
at the time feel little or no interest in that 



36 



MEMOIR OF 



truth. The day may come when it may be 
of unspeakable value to them. It may cause 
them, if they are ever converted, to make a 
good beginning and to move steadily onward 
in the path of the just, which is as the shin- 
ing light, which shineth more and more unto 
the perfect day. 



CHAPTER V. 

Soon after Mr. Barr made a profession of 
religion, his thoughts were turned to the 
ministry. Mr. Bradstreet, to whom he was 
indebted for directions as to a right start, 
thus speaks of him in relation to the minis- 
try : " After becoming so far acquainted 
with him, as to form a correct estimate of 
his talents and natural qualifications for a 
public speaker ; and above all, having satis- 
fied myself of the strength, and depth, and 
permanency of his religious principles and 
pious feelings, I ventured, in a private and 



J. W. BARE. 



87 



confidential interview, to call his attention 
to the duty of preparing to preach the gos- 
pel. Whether the subject had been pre- 
viously suggested to him by any one, or se- 
riously thought of by himself, I am now un- 
able to say. He expressed a strong desire 
to engage in the work, and a burning zeal 
to save sinners, but saw a host of difficulties 
lying in the way." 

In relation to his becoming a minister, his 
excellent father made the following remarks : 
"Although the idea was agreeable to all 
my feelings, yet I was cautious in encourag- 
ing him at first, for two reasons: one, my 
inability to aid him; and another, I wished 
that a sufficient time might pass for his 
Christian character to be developed so much 
as to justify Christian friends in countenanc- 
ing or exciting him to this course ; as I had 
known some instances, in which young men 
of recent piety had been prematurely en- 
couraged to look forward to the ministry, 
and the issue was unhappy for them and for 
the Church. He had not the means for 

pursuing a course of studies without inter- 
4* 



88 



MEMOIR OF 



ruption, to acquire them, and he had strong 
objections against being what is called a 
charity-scholar." 

He was not in haste to come to a con- 
clusion on so important a matter. His 
father was unable to furnish him with the 
means of pursuing his studies. Some of his 
friends, among whom were Rev. Mr. Betts 
of Brownhelm, Rev. Mr. Lathrop of Elyria, 
and Rev. Mr. Bradstreet of Cleveland, 
urged him strongly to enter at once on a 
course of study, and each of them offered 
him four or five months' board and tuition 
free of expense. This generous offer he 
fully appreciated; still, with a feeling of in- 
dependence which no one can censure, he 
deliberated whether he should not postpone 
the commencement of his studies, till by 
continued labour at his trade, he had earned 
the means for their prosecution. He was 
finally convinced that it was his duty to 
accept the kind offers of his friends, and 
remarked, " I do not know but that I have 
cherished a delicacy of feeling respecting 



J. W. BARR. 



89 



receiving assistance from others, beyond 
what is right." 

In relation to this matter, Mr. Bradstreet 
remarks: — " Possessed by nature of a manly, 
independent mind, the idea of dependence 
in pursuing his studies was extremely irk- 
some. And hence I found it necessary, in 
order to persuade him to accept of assist- 
ance, to hold up before him not only the 
satisfaction of helping him forward, but the 
advantages which his instructors would de- 
rive, from having an occasion which would 
compel us to review our former studies. 
Like every other young man of a manly spi- 
rit, he chose to support himself, rather than 
be dependent on the charity of others, either 
public or private. Still he was far as possi- 
ble from being guilty of the sin of ingrati- 
tude. No one evinced a livelier sensibility 
or feeling of obligation to benefactors than 
he. But in every case where it was practi- 
cable for him, by self-denial and personal 
effort, to assist himself, he chose to do it. 
And this he often felt able to accomplish 
when others would have shrunk back. Blest 



40 



MEMOIR OF 



with one of the best constitutions which God 
ever gave to his creatures, and rigidly follow- 
ing the temperance regimen, both in meats 
and drinks, he was able to encounter hard- 
ships which would unnerve meaner spirits. 
The evils incident to the want of pecuniary 
resources to him were 6 trifles light as air. ? 
"When in want of cash to pay his necessary 
expenses, he would resume his trade, during 
a vacation, and thus recruit his health, give 
tone and elasticity to his muscular system, 
and fill his pockets at the same time. This 
habit, so nobly formed and sustained through 
his whole literary course, pre-eminently quali- 
fied him to be a devoted and self-denying 
missionary to the heathen. Happy would 
it be for the Christian Church, if more of 
the young men who are looking forward 
to the gospel ministry possessed the same 
spirit/' 

He commenced his studies in January, 
1825. He spent a few months successively 
in the families of the Rev. Mr. Lathrop, Rev. 
Mr. Betts, and Rev. Mr. Bradstreet. He 
gave a faithful and laborious attention to 



J. W. BARR. 



41 



I his studies, and made satisfactory progress. 
It will be recollected that he had enjoyed 
very limited advantages for acquiring know- 
ledge. At the age of twenty-three, he had 
to go over ground which had been passed by 
most boys of fourteen, who have enjoyed 
the advantages furnished by good common 
schools. 

While he was thus cultivating his intellec- 
tual powers, he did not neglect the culture of 
I his heart. He met with the same difficulties 
i which have been noticed in a former chapter, 
and which all will meet with who make pro- 
gress in the divine life. 

When he had been engaged in study a lit- 
tle more than a year, he wrote thus to his 
father : " To-day has been the time for the 
monthly concert, and I suppose that you 
have united your prayers with the many 
thousands, in behalf of Zion. I have at- 
tended this evening. This meeting is usual- 
ly very interesting to me. There is some- 
thing elevating and pleasing in the reflec- 
tion, that many are uniting, at the same 
time, in interceding for so great a blessing 



42 



MEMOIR OF 



as the descent of the Holy Spirit. that 
the prayers of God's children, this day, 
might arise like holy incense to his throne 
of mercy, and call down rich blessings on 
our guilty world ! I think, my father, that 
if I know the feelings of my own heart, I 
desire that God may be glorified in this 
world and throughout the universe. Yet 
such is the prevalence of sin, and so much 
am I brought under its dominion ; so much 
does pride, self-esteem, and unbelief, abound 
in my heart, that I sometimes have but little 
hopes that I am an humble follower of 

Christ. Yesterday, in looking over 's 

Life, I found a passage that was very in- 
teresting, nearly as follows : ' I have been 
striving for twenty years to rise above a 
poor sinner, but have not been able. A 
beggar still at the throne of grace, and can 
no more live without daily supplies of grace 
than daily food.' When I can feel myself 
to be a beggar at the throne of grace— a 
mere dependent on God's mercy— then are 
my hopes the strongest, and my prospects of 
a future and blessed immortality the bright- 



J. W. BARR. 



43 



est. Yesterday I also finished the Life of 
Martyn. The generality of Christians can- 
not read his life without feeling how far 
beyond them he had progressed in the divine 
life. His deep-toned feelings of piety; his 
breathings after holiness ; his ardent zeal ; 
his unremitted activity in the service of 
Christ, will long be remembered. I hope I 
shall profit by his memoir. My own views 
of education accord with yours. Still I 
tremble, when I think of being confined 
within the walls of a college four years, and 
in a theological seminary, two or three more. 
Study, of itself, is a dangerous enemy to vital 
piety. It will be doubly so, when placed 
within the reach of competition. Could the 
desire of doing good, and of being more 
useful to our fellow-men, be the foundation 
or cause of the desire of excelling in im- 
provement, it would not be wrong. But 
when the promotion of our own glory, the 
gaining of a great name, or the like, are the 
motives, it is wrong; especially, as this will 
lead to misrepresent and defame the talents 
and literary character of competitors. I 



44 



MEMOIR OF 



profess to study to become more useful, but 
whether this is the true motive, He who 
searcheth the heart only knows. The heart 
is deceitful above all things, and desperately 
wicked. I think I am becoming more con- 
vinced of this truth; and the deeper this 
conviction, the more precious does salvation 
by grace appear." 



CHAPTER VI. 

While Mr. Barr was in the family of Mr. 
Bradstreet, his conduct was such as led that 
gentleman to remark, "It was almost impos- 
sible to be in his society any length of time 
without feeling a quickening influence on 
one's heart. I have often felt reproved by 
his godly conversation, ardent piety, and 
supreme devotedness of heart to the Saviour. 
No one could be long in his society without 
feeling that he was a genuine Christian, a 
man of God, fast ripening for heaven. There 



J. W. BAKR. 



45 



was nothing repulsive or austere in his piety, 
but a gravity and cheerfulness becoming a 
child of God. 

While he was pursuing his studies with 
Mr. Bradstreet, Professor Monteith, of Ham- 
ilton College, sent to him an offer of board 
while in college, for his services during hours 
not employed in study. The Professor was 
led to make the proffer out of regard to the 
father, from whom he had received kindness 
during a severe attack of illness, and to the 
favourable impression he had received re- 
specting the character of the young man. In 
compliance with his father's advice, Joseph 
accepted the invitation, and repaired to Clin- 
ton, New York, the residence of Professor 
Monteith, in the early part of the year 1826. 

Not long after his arrival he wrote : " I 
am enabled to pursue my studies, from day 
to day, without any interruption except that 
which is voluntary. I take a good deal of 
exercise, believing it to be necessary for my 
health, and deeming it highly important to 
my future usefulness, to go through my 
studies without injuring my constitution. I 
5 



46 



MEMOIR OF 



believe it is better to be limited in our know- 
ledge of the sciences, and be enabled to make 
what we do possess subservient to the cause 
of Christ, than to have a vast fund, which 
for want of bodily strength, is, in a manner, 
useless. I will endeavour to make the motto 
of a student at Princeton my own. His first 
concern was to take care of his soul; theQ 
his body; and next attend to his studies. 

The following letter was written soon after 
the foregoing. His father had informed him 
of the hopeful conversion of a brother. 

"Dear and Affectionate Brother — I have 
wanted a long time to write you, but have 
been so hurried with my studies and other 
duties, that I could not find time. My 
heart, I trust, was rejoiced, when father 
communicated the intelligence that he had 
some reason to hope that you had passed 
from death unto life. I have longed very 
much to see you, and converse with you 
about the wonderful love of Jesus, and ex- 
hort you 4 to walk worthy of that high and 
holy vocation wherewith you are called.' 
Indeed, brother, this is the object of my 



J. W. BARR. 



47 



writing to you. I know that you have many 
temptations to withstand and trials to under- 
go. The world, the flesh, and the devil will 
assail you, in a thousand varied forms. I 
tremble, brother, when I think of your ex- 
posed condition, lest you should be allured 
from the path of duty, and bring a disgrace 
on the cause of our Redeemer. And first, 
let me entreat you never, for any considera- 
tion, neglect your Bible or the duty of secret 
prayer. If you are ever sanctified, it must 
be through the instrumentality of truth; and 
this must be applied to your heart by the 
Holy Spirit, which you are to receive in an- 
swer to prayer. When you open your Bible, 
it should be with the feelings of David, when 
he said, ' Lord, open thou mine eyes, that I 
may behold wondrous things out of Jhy law.' 
Never read the word of God in a careless 
manner, and guard against a cold, formal 
manner in devotion. Another thing I would 
guard you against, is, taking professing 
Christians around you as the standard of 
your piety. This young persons are prone 
to do. But the Bible is the only standard of 



48 



MEMOIR OF 



faith and practice, and the Lord Jesus Christ 
our only pattern. The Bible says: ' If any 
man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none 
of his/ Now, brother, what was the spirit 
our Saviour exhibited here on the earth? 
Read his life prayerfully, and you will find 
that he was a man of deep humility, and emi- 
nently a man of prayer. Active in doing 
good, self-denied, benevolent, he always ex- 
hibited a tender compassion for sinners; in 
short, he was holy, and we are required to be 
holy. Oh! brother, let there be an entire 
consecration of soul and body to the service 
of our Redeemer. If ever you would become 
eminently holy, or do much for the advance- 
ment of the Redeemer's kingdom, and the 
salvation of souls, you must aim high. Let 
perfection be the mark at which you aim, 
and never rest till you have attained it. 
But I must close, although I have much to 
say to you. May the Lord sanctify you, 
and make you fit for his service here, and 
meet for his kingdom hereafter. 

J. W. Bark." 
He did not allow his interest in his studies 



J. W. BARR. 



49 



to prevent him from engaging in active ef- 
forts for the good of others. He writes to a 
friend: — "I have just returned from the 
monthly concert of Sunday-school teachers, 
of which I am one here. We had a very 
interesting time. Teachers seem to feel their 
responsibility, and the importance of being 
faithful. The present period in this place 
is one of deep and awful interest. The 
Spirit of God has been at work here, and it 
now seems to be the turning point whether 
this people will receive a blessing or not. 
Things, for a week back, have looked rather 
dark and gloomy. About the time I came 
here, the Lord appeared by his Spirit to call 
up the attention of his children to pray for 
the outpouring of his Spirit, and to awaken 
sinners to a concern for their souls/' 

The religious interest which prevailed at 
that time in the part of the country in which 
Barr was living, was connected with some 
things which gave pain to some of the more 
judicious portion of the church. It is possi- 
ble that Joseph W. Barr contracted some- 
thing of the censorious spirit which prevailed 
5* 



50 



MEMOIR OF 



to some extent among those who were deep- 
ly interested in the revivals in progress. 
Whether this surmise be well founded or not ? 
it is certain that his letters to his father con- 
tained something which that excellent father 
deemed worthy of reproof. The manner in 
which the son received it, will appear from 
the following extract of a letter to his father : 
— " Your kind admonition, or word of confi- 
dence, gave rise to mingled feelings of pain 
and pleasure — pain that any of my conduct 
had given occasion for it — pleasure, as it af- 
forded me a new instance of your affection, 
and of that deep interest in my welfare and 
future usefulness which you have ever mani- 
fested ; and I hope you will continue to ad- 
monish me as the spirit of my letters may 
demand, or your own experience suggest." 

The following letters will give an idea of 
the course of his life during his residence at 
Clinton. 

"Clinton, March 17, 1827. 
Saturday Night. 

66 My Dear Parent— On the return of this 
evening, my thoughts very often wander 
home, and I almost imagine myself seated 



J. W. BARE. 



51 



in your family circle, and listening to your 
instructions, or, as it sometimes was the case, 
(and I doubt not is still,) see you with a 
heavy heart preparing for the duties of the 
Sabbath. Such thoughts give rise to melan- 
choly feelings, and even excite the tear of 
affection, lest we should not again enjoy the 
privilege of meeting in the family group. 
With such feelings, I thought I would write 
my letters to you something in the form of a 
journal. 

"I have just now been looking over my 
Sabbath-school lesson in the Greek Testa- 
ment, to see what explanations and what in- 
structions to give to my scholars on the mor- 
row. I have been engaged as a Sabbath- 
school teacher ever since I came here. Much 
is doing for the cause of Sabbath-schools, 
and much good is done by them in this 
region. God appears to be blessing this 
institution, and making it the nursery of his 
Church. There are in this county, (Oneida,) 
about 70 schools, 700 teachers, and 4000 
scholars. By the scholars giving one cent. 



52 



MEMOIR OF 



and the teachers 6J cents a month, we shall 
raise money to employ a missionary the 
whole year, whose business will be to es- 
tablish new schools, and visit and encou- 
rage those already in operation. The influ- 
ence of Sabbath-schools on the well being of 
society is very great. It dries up, as it were, 
the very fountains of vice and crime. In 
proof of this, it is now said that there is not 
an individual at either of the state prisons 
in this State, who has been a Sabbath-school 
scholar. 

" 28th. — I have just returned from school, 
and snatch up my pen to write a few words 
to you. I am labouring under a severe cold, 
hardly able to speak intelligibly, and am not 
fit for study. The term of our Academy 
will close in two weeks more, when we shall 
have a vacation of four weeks. I am at pre- 
sent reviewing my studies for examination at 
the end of the term, and from the uneasiness 
and anxiety of my mind respecting my 
standing as a student, I suspect that ambi- 
tion, once the darling passion of my heart, 



J. W. BARB. 



58 



has yet a strong hold there, and it calls to 
mind Watts's version of the 131st Psalm, 

6 Is there ambition in my heart? 
Search, gracious God, and see. 5 

I find that a state of competition, when 
united with dependence, is, to say the least, 
dangerous, and requires no ordinary degree 
of grace to keep alive a spirit of ardent piety. 
Nor do I sometimes wonder that so many in 
this situation have had only the form of god- 
liness. Few have escaped, uninjured, the 
temptations and allurements attendant on 
an ordinary state of competition ; who then 
can stand against them, when more than 
doubled by dependence ? None but he who 
can rely implicitly on the promise, ' My 
grace is sufficient for thee." 

"30th. — It is now eleven at night, but I 
would converse a few words with you. I 
have been thinking, this day or two back, on 
our Saviour's declaration, that "the children 
of this world are wiser in their generation 
than the children of light," and comparing it 
with what is seen at the present day. The 
men of this world pursue their schemes of 



54 



MEMOIR OF 



pleasure or profit, with an energy and perse- 
verance worthy of nobler objects. No dan- 
gers intimidate them, no hardships fatigue, 
nor sufferings discourage them. Difficulties 
seem to give new vigour to their resolutions, 
and excite them to more active and ener- 
getic efforts. How different the conduct of 
Christians ! In pursuit of the only objects 
worthy the attention of rational and immor- 
tal minds, how feeble their energy, how 
languid their perseverance! Frightened at 
the appearance of danger, they have no reso- 
lution to overcome difficulties, nor disposition 
to undergo suffering. I am ashamed of my- 
self; ashamed of the inconsistent, I had 
almost said irrational, conduct of Christians» 
Should a wanderer from some other planet 
visit this, he would never suspect that we 
were indulging hopes of immortality, and 
that this was not our home. I now think of 
a passage in a sermon of Mr. Schermerhorn, 
(the companion of Mills to the West,) which 
struck me quite forcibly. He said, if the 
salvation of our souls depended on the sacri- 



J. W. BAKE. 



55 



fices we made for Christ, very few would be 
saved. Good night. 

"April 3d. — The midnight hour approaches^ 
and all is still — delightful hour for contem- 
plation, but dangerous to health. Mine is 
better, almost freed from my cold. There 
are few things in which we incur so much 
guilt without laying it to heart, as in abus- 
ing the invaluable blessing, health. Last 
Sabbath was our communion in the College. 
Two boys, the oldest not yet fifteen, were 
admitted into the church. It was a solemn 
season, but how soon do we wear off the 
good impressions received, and break the 
solemn vows taken upon us while at the 
table of our Lord ! and how kind and gra- 
cious is the blessed Redeemer in permitting 
us to come again and again to receive of the 
rich blessings of the gospel feast which we 
have so often abused ! Good night. 

"April 11th. — Our public exhibition has 
closed this evening, and a termination been 
made of conflicting feelings in my heart. 
We had a full house, and the exercises were 
quite interesting. Among other things, I 



56 



MEMOIK OF 



hare had my vanity a little, or perhaps in 
truth, not a little gratified in receiving the 
highest premium for writing and delivering 
the best oration. My subject was Moral 
Character. To appear before the public, 
and exhibit our attainments and talents, is 
no pleasing task, where we expect to be criti- 
cised. It is calculated to call into action 
many feelings which I never would wish to 
pervade my bosom. But I feel exhausted, 
and need repose to fit me for the duties of 
another day. 

"April 13^. —I have laboured to-day at 
my trade, and this evening attended a prayer- 
meeting ; but my heart was ill prepared for 
such a duty, and I consequently enjoyed but 
little communion with God — could not ap- 
proach near the mercy-seat— my views of 
God and sin obscure. What a hardening 
effect sin has on the heart! I can some- 
times say, with Job, I think in sincerity, 6 Oh 
that I knew where I might find him, that I 
might come even to his seat V 

" There is nothing very interesting here 
at present to communicate concerning Zion. 



J. W. BARE. 



57 



Sometimes the appearances will excite hope, 
but they pass as the early dew and morning 
cloud. The Lord, however, is visiting seve- 
ral places in this section. 

It is now several months since I heard 
from home, and I feel some anxiety to hear 
how you all do. I have many trials and 
temptations to encounter, and need much 
grace to live in a manner that will honour 
the cause of Christ, and make me useful. 
My love to mother and all the little ones 
and friends. Your affectionate son, 

J. W. Barr." 

" Clinton, May 25, 1827. 

" Very Dear Friends — It is now a year 
since I left your much loved family, in which 
I passed so many delightful moments, and I 
did not think it would be so long before I 
would write to you. I have been constantly 
employed, and time has passed along rapidly. 
Having a good opportunity of sending to 
you by Mr. M.'s friends, who are going to 
Ohio, I embrace it, with the hope of receiv- 
ing a good long letter in return. With the 
6 



58 



MEMOIR OF 



exception of a few weeks last fall, my health 
has been extremely good since I left you. I 
did not enter college last fall for two rea- 
sons. One because I was not quite fitted, 
and the other, that I could pursue my studies 
at the Academy to about the same advan- 
tage, and much cheaper. When I concluded 
not to enter, I wished I had stayed with you. 
I mean not to flatter you when I say, that I 
have found no instructor in the languages 
under whose tuition I have made that pro- 
gress that I believe I did under you. Since 
last fall, I have read about four books of Livy, 
and in the Grseca Majora, Herodotus, Thucy- 
dides, Xenophon's Anabasis, Cyropgedia and 
Memorabilia, besides some in my New Tes- 
tament. I write composition or speak once 
a week. Last fall, at our examination, I 
received the premium for Greek, a fine pocket 
Testament, and a few weeks since I received 
the highest premium for delivering the best 
oration at our exhibition, and also the pre- 
mium for Latin. My oration was on Moral 
Character. But I am a poor scholar, and 
sometimes feel that I always shall be; the 



J. W. BARR. 



59 



more I learn, the more I see there is to 
learn. Competition, I find, is calculated to 
bring into action all the ambitious feelings 
of my heart, and it would be well if they 
escaped a tincture of envy. 

"I find a constant propensity in me to lose 
sight of the great objects in view in study- 
ing, and to pursue them from wrong motives. 
Sometimes I love to linger along and pluck 
the flowers of literature which come in 
sight, perhaps with the idea at some future 
day of weaving them into a wreath to at- 
tract the attention of a giddy multitude. 
Sometimes the sight of a competitor ad- 
vancing with more rapid strides up the hill 
of science, spurs me forward to overtake him, 
and it would be well if I never thought of 
sticking a weight to his heels. I think now 
of entering college next fall, in the Sopho- 
more class. There are about ninety students 
in college, between thirty and forty of whom 
are pious, some of fine talents and ardent 
piety, who will make faithful ministers of 
the gospel. But there is not enough of a 
missionary spirit among them ; few of them 5 



60 



MEMOIR OF 



so far as my acquaintance extends, have 
energy and self-denial enough to forsake all 
the endearments of civilized life to labour 
among the heathen, or even in our new 
countries. I wish to see more of a mission- 
ary spirit among our young men of piety, 
for it augurs well to the Church at home ; for 
his heart who is affected by the sounds of 
moral ruin at a distance, faintly telling on 
the ear, cannot be unaffected with the moral 
wastes of Zion, and moral death immediately 
around him. 

" The present state of Zion here is not 
very interesting. Some things have trans- 
pired lately in this section, which seem por- 
tentous to the best interests of the Church. 

"June 23c?. — Dear Friend — I was very 
much disappointed in not sending this line 
by Mr. M.'s friends, who went away very 
unexpectedly while I was absent from home. 
Mr. L. called on me this afternoon on his 
way to Ohio, with his wife. A stranger in 
a strange land, I can feel the force of the 
wise man's comparison, 'as iron sharpeneth 
iron, so doth the countenance of a man his 



J. W. BARE. 



61 



friend.' I still enjoy good health, and pur- 
sue my studies with some anxious feelings, 
as the examination for admission into col- 
lege approaches. 

"I have often thought of an expression of 
a friend of yours, which you related to me, 
respecting speaking in conference, "that 
there was always something to say and do 
where there was a sinner. " I do not know 
anything that gives me more pain to look 
back on, than the little I have done for the 
salvation of sinners around me; and yet I 
continue to pursue, in a great measure, the 
same course. To arouse from a state of in- 
activity and insensibility, to action and deep 
feeling, to bring all the energies of my 
soul to bear on this point, and feel that I 
have no interest separate from the interests 
of the Lord Jesus Christ, to eat, drink, 
sleep, and labour for no other object but 
the salvation of souls, and the advancement 
of Christ's kingdom, would throw such a 
deep shade over my past life, require so 
much self-denial, and need so much grace to 
carry it through, that I am ashamed in the 
6* 



62 



MEMOIR OF 



one case, shrink from the other, and am of so 
doubtful faith in the latter, that I cannot 
trust the promises of God, whose language 
is, 6 My grace is sufficient for thee;' yet 
such is the course, I would say to every 
Christian, which it is your duty to follow. 

" Oh, that I were crucified to the world, 
and the world to me ! In looking forward 
to the work of the ministry, I desire to view 
it in its most self-denying and laborious as- 
pect, that I may come to it prepared to en- 
dure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus 
Christ. I have lately been reading some of 
Brainerd's Memoirs, and feel ashamed that 
I am wading along in the mire and dirt of 
this world, while I might run and not faint, 
walk and not be weary in the ways of holi- 
ness, as well as Brainerd. I would willingly 
unbosom more of my feelings were it prac- 
ticable. 

"I hope you will write to me soon. I de- 
sire to know how you do, and how the little 
flock under your charge prospers. I cannot 
tell you how severely I felt your affliction in 
the death of Lucy Ann. I could scarcely 



J. W. BAKE. 



63 



refrain from weeping, so strongly had I be- 
come attached to her. Give my love to 

Mr. , and , and all those with whom 

I once met in the prayer-circle. I send 
some letters and books for brother Samuel, 
directed to your care; please to forward 
them. Do write to me soon, and let me 
know about your college, and the state of 
things in your region. Your sincere friend, 

J. W. Barr." 

" Clinton, Sept. 29, 1827. 

"Dear and Affectionate Parent — Having 
a good opportunity of sending a line to you, 
I cheerfully embrace it. The Rev. Mr. A. 

if 

called this afternoon to let me know he was 
returning to Ohio. 

"Through the goodness and mercy of our 
God, I have been spared, blessed with health, 
and prospered in the labour of my hands, 
for which I desire to be grateful. But some 
trials of my faith have been mixed with the 
blessings, and I have experienced some des- 
ponding moments, when my way seemed en- 
tirely enveloped in darkness. A sketch may 



64 



MEMOIR OF 



be interesting; but I do not mention my 
own trials with a view of increasing yours, 
but simply that I may recount the dealings 
of God with me, and that you may rejoice 
with me in his deliverance and mercy. In 
my last, I mentioned that I was going out 
to work by the month. After making seve- 
ral trials here in vain, I started for Oriska- 
ny, distant nine miles, where I heard work 
was demanded, but could not get employ- 
ment. From thence I went to Whitesbor- 
ough, four miles. Here they wished to hire, 
but because I had no tools or recommendation 
of my skill, they refused to employ me. I 
then went to Utica, the emporium of this 
Western country. On application to seve- 
ral of the principal workmen, I found that 
the place was overstocked with joiners, and 
that numbers were going away. I was an 
entire stranger, without a cent of money; my 
feet were blistered with walking ; I was both 
tired and hungry, having eat nothing since 
breakfast, being some time in the afternoon. 
While thus wandering through the streets, 
seeking employment, I met a young man 



J. W. BAKR. 



65 



with whom I had been to school for several 
months the past winter, and I borrowed 
twenty-five cents to get me something to 
eat. Soon after I had the pleasure of see- 
ing Esq. C, of C, just returning from the 
East. This day was the anniversary of the 
Western Sunday-school Union, which was to 
meet at four o'clock, and I expected Mr. M. 
would be there. I went to the place of 
meeting, and found Mr. and Mrs. M. and 
Miss H.; also heard a number of very ani- 
mated addresses, from persons of different 
sections, among the first of whom were Dr. 
L. of Auburn, Rev. Mr. A. of Utica, and 
Mr. G. S. of Peterborough. The latter is 
the best orator I ever heard. He is a young 
man of superior talents and attainments, a 
distinguished politician, and a decided Chris- 
tian. After the anniversary, I informed 
Mr. M. of my fruitless efforts to obtain a 
place to work. He advised me to stay all 
night ; not to be discouraged, but make 
some further effort in the morning. It was 
now eight, when I started to look me up a 
lodging for the night. I was partially ac- 



66 



MEMOIR OF 



quainted with a young man from Ohio, who 
resided with his sister. I determined to go 
and find him, and tell him my situation. I 
found him quite unwell. He seemed pleased 
to see me, and was able to supply me with 
a bed. About ten I retired to my room, a 
good deal dejected. I was assailed with va- 
rious temptations of the devil. At one mo- 
ment I felt like repining at the Providence 
of God. I thought it hard that one so will- 
ing, as I believed I was, to do something to 
assist myself in prosecuting my studies, should 
be thus baffled. At another, I would sink 
down into despondency and gloom, and feel 
like giving up all effort. At length I took 
up the Bible for relief, and turned to the 
34th Psalm, in which David so positively 
asserts the care of the Lord for his people, 
and I found it precious and seasonable. I 
saw that I had not felt, that 6 except the 
Lord build the house, the workmen labour 
in vain,' but had been placing too much de- 
pendence on my own efforts. So much for 
the journey of a day. The next day I re- 
turned here, obtained work at sixteen dol- 



J. W. BAKE, 



67 



lars cash per month ; have worked my month 
out and received my pay, purchased a suit 
of clothes, and made some preparations for 
college. It is like commencing house-keep- 
ing, and I have almost all the expenses to 
defray from my own exertions. 

"I expect now to take a small school within 
a few rods of the college for the winter, for 
which I shall receive my board and ten dol- 
lars per month, and still room in college, 
and pursue my studies as far as I can. I 
have had bed and bedding to provide — bed 
and pillow of straw — bed-tick, sheets, and 
pillow cases, plain cotton sheeting, at fifteen 
cents a yard. I have made a bedstead, and 
friends A. and B. have each lent me a quilt 
or blanket for the winter. My suit of clothes 
will be decent, comfortable, and I think dur- 
able, and the whole cost for materials and 
making, fourteen dollars. It is now late on 
Saturday night, for I have written this long 
letter, besides reading a little, and doing 
some necessary things preparatory for the 
Sabbath, and I need rest to be fitted for its 
duties. 



68 



MEMOIR OF 



"Sabbath evening.— I have been afforded 
another day of rest, and I think I can say it 
is delightful to wait on God in the ordinances 
of his own appointment. I heard Mr. Arm- 
strong, this afternoon, from Heb. xii. 14: 
6 Holiness, without which no man shall see the 
Lord.' Was interested and edified. I think 
I can rejoice that God is infinitely holy, and 
requires holiness* in his creatures, and that I 
love holiness, and desire to be delivered from 
the power of inward corruption, and con- 
formed to the glorious image of the Re- 
deemer. What a process is sanctification ! 
It is compared to refining metal ; and if the 
great Refiner has undertaken a work within 
me, may I come out seven times purified ! 
Pray for me, that I may be sanctified, body, 
soul, and spirit, for his service. 

Your son, J. W. Bark." 

"Clinton, Oct. 1, 1827» 

"Dear Friend — The present life is a con- 
tinued scene of change and trial. Some- 
times we ride on the gale of prosperity, at 
others we are driven by the storm of adver- 



J. W. BARR. 



69 



sity. Sometimes our heavenly Father seems 
to allure us to his arms by his goodness ; he 
opens the stores of his bounty, and with an 
untiring hand strews our path with the bless- 
ings of his providence; and when this fails 
of bringing us to him, he hedges up our way 
by afflictions and crosses, blasts the fondest 
objects of our affections, which were draw- 
ing us from him ; brings us to pause and 
reflect, turns us about in our full course, and 
leads us in a way which we have not known. 
All the changes we are called to pass 
through, and trials we endure, have their ob- 
ject. Every event of our lives is of a disci- 
plinary nature. If we are vessels of mercy, 
God is thus preparing us afore for glory ; 
but if vessels of wrath, we are fitting for an 
aggravated destruction. I do not intend, 
however, to write a sermon, but was led to 
these reflections by revolving in my mind 
the scenes through which I have passed, in 
order to recount to you the dealings of God 
with me. 

u October — Bear Sir — I was broken 
off from writing when I commenced, and 
7 



70 



MEMOIR OF 



have not found time before now to com- 
mence again, and only now for a few mo- 
ments, for the chapel bell for prayers will 
soon ring. I have entered college, and been 
engaged in its duties better than a week. I 
am much pleased with the instruction. I 
board with a farmer about sixty rods from 
college, who is a deacon of the church in 
the village. I am now almost entirely re- 
moved from under the patronage of Mr. 
Monteith, and have only my own exertions 
to depend upon for support and means to 
go on with my studies. I expect to teach a 
small school, during winter, near college. 
This will deprive me of one recitation a 
day, which will be in the Greek language ; 
and I am better prepared to lose a lesson in 
that, than in any other of my studies. I ex- 
pect to be up late and early, and study 
hard, in order to keep up with my class, and 
I fear respecting my health, but at present 
I see no alternative ; and if this is the way 
the Lord has designed for me, he will bring 
me through in safety. Hitherto hath he led 
me, and he hath not brought me up to this 



J. W. BARE. 



71 



strange land to die of want, or even to be 
destitute of the comforts of life. I have 
some warm friends, and Providence has now 
cast my lot in a family, the heads of which 
are indeed among the excellent of the 
earth. 

"October 31. — I have just finished my les- 
son this evening, and cheerfully devote a 
few moments to converse with you. After 
a long season, I have been gratified with a 
letter from home, having this week received 
a letter from brother J ohn. I have cause 
for gratitude, that amidst the afflictions and 
judgments with which God has seen fit to 
visit the neighbourhood of my friends, I am 
not called to mourning. Brother mentions 

that there is some opposition to Mr. ; 

but it is from that quarter from which we 
can never expect anything else. The Church 
and the world are diametrically opposite in 
feeling and interest, and never can coalesce. 
Circumstances, however, often prevent open 
hostility; but this is not half so dangerous 
to the interests of religion, as that open 
profession of friendship which conceals the 



72 



MEMOIR OF 



dark enmity of the heart, and throws Chris- 
tians off their guard, and then, like a mid- 
night assassin, aims a fatal stab at the vitality 
of religion. But the greatest evil, at the 
present day, is that professing Christians 
forget that the 6 friendship of this world is 
enmity against God,' and are often found 
co-operating in those measures which se- 
riously injure the cause of religion. 

" We have no preaching in college, and, as 
a general thing, a lamentable state of cold- 
ness and stupidity prevails among professors. 
Conformity to the spirit and maxims of the 
world is the prevailing sin. When I first 
came, I had to ask who were pious, for their 
speech did not bewray them. I trust, how- 
ever, we have a few who pray over the deso- 
late state of Zion. The state of religion in 
this region exhibits nothing very interesting 
at the present time. Still, I believe, the 
kingdom of the Redeemer is on the advance. 
A deeper interest is felt on the subject of 
Sabbath-schools and Bible-classes; also, on 
the subject of foreign missions. The fact 



J. W. BARE. 



73 



that a family from this place, and another 
from Utica, have gone to the Sandwich 
Islands, in the last reinforcement, has ex- 
cited a good deal of feeling and interest in 
the religious community. 

But I must come to a close. My health 
has not heen as good as usual, since I have 
been in college. I hardly know what to 
write about my spiritual state. I feel that 
I live far below the standard of the Bible, 
and yet Satan would have me believe my 
standard is high enough. I am sometimes 
sorely beset by this adversary of souls, who 
always finds a ready helper in my own 
wicked heart. i But thanks be unto God, 
who giveth us the victory through Jesu3 
Christ.' how delightful it is, when temp- 
tations beset us on every side, and the foun- 
tains of corruption in the heart seem broken 
up, to have a clear view of the Saviour ! 
I would sometimes hope that my desires to 
live more to the glory of God are increas- 
ing. I hope, my dear friend, you will pray 

much for me. I often turn my thoughts to 
7* 



74 



MEMOIR OF 



E., and think of my friends. Give my love 
to all. I will soon write to brother John. 
"Your sincere friend, 

Joseph W. Barr." 

"Clinton, January \Qth 9 1828. 

" Dear and affectionate Parent — It seems 
a great while since I have received a letter 
from you; and I don't know but you have 
some reason to think I have forgotten you, 
or that time or distance has alienated my 
affections from you. But neither is, I be- 
lieve, the case. I have longed more to see 
you for some weeks past, than at any other 
time since I left home. My apology for not 
writing sooner, is that my time has been so 
occupied, or my mind so much confused, that 
I could not write anything satisfactory, and 
therefore delayed till a more convenient op- 
portunity. This has at length arrived, and 
I cheerfully embrace it. 

" Yesterday my first term in college closed; 
the greater part of which has been a very 
hard one to me, being engaged in a school, 
as well as studies. I have cause, however, 



J. W. BARE. 75 

for unbounded gratitude to the Father of 
mercies, for the health I have enjoyed, and 
the measure of success that has attended my 
exertions in the pursuit of science. I have 
been employed in keeping school better than 
eight weeks, and expect to continue about 
twelve more. I receive ten dollars per 
month, and board and washing. It puts me 
back in my studies, but I know not how to 
do better. My expenses are more than I 
anticipated. My tuition and room-rent 
alone amount to $18.25, this term : seven 
dollars of this for entering a year in advance. 
I have generally been pleased with my 
studies. I do not, however, like Horace's 
odes; they are too licentious. Oftentimes a 
stroke of indelicate wit, expressed in lan- 
guage highly beautiful, poisons the mind 
ere I am aware of its influence. 

"I have formed some valuable acquaint- 
ances in college. My room-mate, a young 
man from Reading, Pennsylvania, has pro- 
mising talents, united with ardent piety. 
He belongs to the junior class, and is one of 
our elders in the church. We have a society 



76 MEMOIR OF 

formed among the pious students, denomina- 
ted the ' Society of Inquiry/ for the pur- 
pose of collecting information about the 
waste places of Zion, and for cultivating a 
spirit of piety and of missions. We wish to 
have the state of Zion before us, to know 
her wants, and to have our hearts deeply 
interested in the advancement of the Re- 
deemer's kingdom, and deeply imbued with 
the spirit of our Master. We have a large 
book in which we record all the information 
we collect. I wish you, if you can, to send 
me a view of the destitute churches within 
the bounds of your Presbytery, as soon 
as practicable. The number of destitute 
churches; the number of members in each 
church; their ability to support the gospel; 
the general disposition of the people to at- 
tend on the means of grace, &c, are some 
of the leading points which we wish to know. 
There is another topic on which I wish 
information. What good are our domestic 
missionaries doing? — what good might they 
do, if you had more of them ? — and what is 
the want of them ? I am appointed to plead 



J. W. BARB,. 



77 



the cause of domestic missions before one of 
their societies, at their next meeting, and I 
wish to lay before them — the field of labour, 
the wants of the churches, the good that 
might probably attend their labours, and 
encourage them to proceed, from the good 
they have already done. 

" The state of religion in this section re- 
mains about the same as when I wrote last, 
except, I think, there is an increased spirit 
of benevolence among Christians. Some 
few Christians seem to have tasted the luxu- 
ry of doing good, and others are following 
their example. Several towns in this vicini- 
ty are still favoured with ' refreshings from 
the presence of the Lord/ Sabbath-schools 
are exerting a commanding influence, both 
in church and society, in this section. I 
could write more, if my paper would per- 
mit. Mr. Monteith's family are well. 
" Your affectionate son, 

Joseph W. Bare." 



78 



MEMOIR OF 



CHAPTER VII. 

Mr. Barr remained at Clinton about two 
years. He then thought of going to Am- 
herst College, but was induced to go to the 
Western Reserve College, which was then in 
its infancy. Some of the friends of that 
Institution convinced him that he could do 
more good by giving a right direction to 
things there at the outset, than by availing 
himself of the superior advantages offered 
by Amherst. He reached Hudson the latter 
part of the summer of 1828. 

The following account of his manner of 
life while connected with the Western Re- 
serve College, was furnished by a friend, 
who had full opportunities for knowing the 
truth of what he affirmed. 

"The students of the Western Reserve 
College, to whom he immediately introduced 
himself, were much interested in his appear- 
ance and manners; and those of them who 
loved the cause of Christ, were greatly ani- 
mated by the early exhibitions of his zeal 



J. W. BAfcR. 



79 



for God, and love for souls. He seemed de- 
sirous of being known immediately as a 
Christian; and scarcely a day had elapsed, 
before many little tracts and pamphlets, 
which he had brought in his trunk, were in 
circulation through the College. One of 
these, of which he had many copies, was an 
interesting 4 Appeal to the people of the 
United States, in behalf of Sabbath-schools.' 
He seemed very desirous that it should be 
read by every student. 

"Soon after his arrival, however, and be- 
fore his illness, he was frequently found in 
evening conference meetings, labouring with 
zeal and holy boldness for the edification 
of Christians, and the conversion of sinners. 

" To attend these meetings, in different dis- 
tricts of the township, was his constant 
practice for a number of months, while the 
regulations of college would permit. And 
with respect to the course he adopted in 
these little but important labours, it might 
be observed here, that it was his uniform 
practice to prepare something that he might 
communicate. His exhortations were never 



80 



MEMOIR OF 



the offspring of a momentary excitement, 
though they came with warmth and tender- 
ness. While walking to one of these meet- 
ings, he inquired of a fellow-student what he 
was going to say. His companion replied, 
that he could not tell; he should wait to 
know what subject would come before the 
meeting. 4 1 always spend some time in 
my room/ he said, Ho arrange my thoughts 
on some subject for remark in the meeting/ 
This practice, though attended with some 
inconveniences when the exercises of the 
meeting were conducted by another person, 
he proved to be worthy of imitation. For 
what he had to say was so well digested, 
that his hearers were not only interested 
and pleased, but profited. The citizens of 
the place, I doubt not, still retain the sub- 
stance of many of his touching appeals. 

44 Soon after he became a member of col- 
lege, brother Barr exerted his influence to 
establish a Sabbath morning prayer-meeting, 
the object of which was to present supplica- 
tions for the colleges and institutions of 
learning, throughout our country and the 



J. W. BARR. 



81 



world, before the throne. In his effort to 
accomplish this he was successful; and from 
that time to the present, those meetings 
have been constantly and regularly contin- 
ued. In these meetings, as well as in our 
weekly prayer-meetings on Thursday even- 
ings, he was uniformly found, and always 
prepared to encourage and stimulate his 
Christian brethren, by his warm and pun- 
gent appeals, so long as he remained a mem- 
ber of the institution. It was refreshing to 
every Christian heart to listen to the words 
that dropped from his lips. There was such 
a richness of thought, clothed with such a 
sacredness of manner, that all of our little 
group 6 took knowledge of him that he had 
been with Jesus.' The character of the 
Saviour was his favourite theme. He de- 
lighted in holding it up as an example to his 
brethren ; and when dwelling upon the infi- 
nite benevolence that was exhibited in his 
mission to our fallen world, his soul seemed 
to rise from earth, and enjoy the highest 
bliss, 4 in wonder, love, and praise/ 
"In our meetings on Sabbath mornings, his 
8 



82 



MEMOIR OF 



eye was constantly fixed on the six hundred 
millions of the heathen world. It was here 
that he found the grand impelling motive to 
prayer for colleges. These institutions he 
regarded as so many fountains, destined to 
send their waters to every part of our thirsty 
planet. That our world should be redeemed, 
then, and that the gospel light should be 
diffused throughout all its darkened nations, 
the renovating and sanctifying influences of 
the Spirit of God upon seminaries of learn- 
ing were, in his estimation, a blessing most 
earnestly to be desired and prayed for, by 
the Christian community. 

"As a student, Barr soon distinguished 
himself. He was anxious to employ all the 
means within his reach to improve his intel- 
lect. He scorned the thought of going into 
the service of his Redeemer, as a preacher 
of the gospel, with an uncultivated, ill-shapen 
mind. Soon after his arrival at college, he 
exerted himself to form a literary society, 
for the benefit of himself and others in this 
respect. As the institution was new, no 
such society had been organized. In the 



J. W. BARE. 



83 



formation of its constitution, he was a prin- 
cipal agent, and deserves a large share of 
the credit due to its founders. The society 
still retains the impress of his fingers. 

"In the cause of temperance he immediate- 
ly engaged with his whole soul. Cold water 
was his only beverage ; and he was anxious 
that every student should adopt the same 
habit of entire abstinence — not only from 
alcoholic drinks, but also from tea, coffee, 
tobacco, &c. Doubtless, to his abstemious 
habits, he was indebted for that vigour, cor- 
poreal and intellectual, which gave efficiency 
to all his efforts in the cause of God. 

" He confined not his efforts in behalf of 
Christian temperance to the college. Placed 
at the head of a temperance society, formerly 
existing in that institution, he laboured to 
extend the influence of that society to the 
citizens of the neighbouring townships. Lit- 
tle had been done in this section of the 
country, at that time, for this object; and 
he earnestly desired to adopt some measures 
that should awaken the public mind more 
thoroughly to this subject. A plan was sug- 



84 



MEMOIR OF 



gested to him by a Christian brother, from 
the Mackinaw Mission. It was to number 
the intemperate citizens of the county, and 
ascertain also the quantity of grain distilled, 
the amount of whiskey made, the number of 
distilleries, &c. Barr called the society to- 
gether, proposed the plan, pled earnestly 
that it might be adopted, and rejoiced in the 
success of the project. An impulse was 
given to temperance which the country still 
feels. To this effort he alludes in his pri- 
vate diary as follows : 

"'January 17, 1829. — I have neglected 
my journal for more than a week, because 
of the pressure of studies, and some busi- 
ness. I have been assisting in collecting 
and laying before the public, some facts on 
the subject of intemperance. The extent 
of this evil is astonishing; and still more 
astonishing is the apathy with which Chris- 
tians view it.' 

"During the month of March, 1829, he 
was employed as an agent for the Western 
Reserve Sunday-School Union, and travelled 
through the eastern counties of the Reserve ; 



J. W. BARE. 



85 



assisted to form county and township socie- 
ties, and addressed congregations in behalf 
of Sunday-schools. A few extracts from 
his journal will suffice to give a view of him 
in this department of active labour. 

"'Euclid, March 6, 1829.— * * * I ex- 
pect to leave here to-day, on my tour as a 
Sunday-school agent, that I might feel 
more my weakness, and have a stronger 
faith in the promises of God!' 

" 'Painesville, March 10. — * * * To-day 
I expect the society for this county (Geauga) 
will be formed. I shall probably be called 
on to address the meeting, which very much 
troubles me ; and I am ready to say with 
Moses, 4 Send, I pray thee, by the hand of 
him whom thou wilt send.' that God 
would be with my mouth, and teach me 
what to say; and, for his own glory, give 
my cause favour in the sight of this people I] 

" 'Austinhurg, March 19. — Yesterday a 
Sunday-school society for this county (Ash- 
tabula) was formed ; and some few take an 
interest in it, which promises well for the 
future. But still there is a great indiffer- 
8* 



86 



MEMOIR OF 



ence on this momentous subject. I feel my- 
self that I do not enter into this cause with 
my whole soul as I ought. that I might 
feel how important a bearing this institution 
has on the welfare of immortal souls, and 
the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom!' 

" 'Brookfield, Trumbull county, April 3. — 
Yesterday I addressed this people on the 
subject of Sunday-schools. Some were in 
tears at the recital of the blessed effects of 
Sunday-schools in other places. A subscrip- 
tion of twenty dollars was obtained. One 
man, not a professor of religion, gave fifteen 
dollars. Thus far the Lord has blessed my 
feeble labours for good. that I might 
feel more my dependence on Him V 

" Through the whole of the two years which 
he spent in college, Barr was assiduously 
engaged in this cause. In the autumn of 
1828, he established two or three small 
schools in neighbouring destitute settle- 
ments, and obtained for them teachers. 
Through most of the winter following, he 
was the superintendent of a school seven 
miles distant. The reader will see a speci- 



J. W. BARR. 



87 



men of his labours in this cause, in the fol- 
lowing extracts from his diary. 

"'December 28, 1828.— * * * Made 
some preparation for my Bible-class ; began 
to think about the responsibility of my situ- 
ation as a teacher of youth in the Sunday- 
school and Bible-class, and trust I felt some 
of my own weakness; took some notes of 
facts connected with Sunday-schools, which 
I wished to mention before a congregation. 
Walked to my school, and tried to lift up my 
heart in ejaculatory prayer on the way, that 
God would assist me, and bless my scholars ; 
felt a good deal encouraged to go forward in 
my school and Bible-class. Afterward, walk- 
ed six miles to a neighbourhood where I had 
appointed to plead the cause of Sabbath- 
schools. Found a full house, and fixed at- 
tention. A school was appointed for next 
Sabbath, and a lesson given out.' 

" 'February 2, 1829. — I have been from 
home two days past, to assist in forming a 
Sunday-school in a destitute town. In com- 
pany with Deacon K , I visited most of 

the families in the neighbourhood. Some 



88 



MEMOIR, OF 



of them were sunk to the lowest degree of 
poverty and ignorance. One family, con- 
sisting of a man, his wife, and five children, 
not one of whom can read, excited my com- 
passion. But two or three individuals who 
make any pretensions to religion, and they 
are of a doubtful character ; Sabbath viola- 
ted; profanity abounds, and intemperance, 
the scourge of our land, spreads its unhal- 
lowed desolations around, without one re- 
deeming quality. Yet nearly all seemed 
favourably disposed to the Sunday-school.' 

"In May, 1829, he engaged his growing in- 
fluence to form a Society of Inquiry in the 
college. He had, before this time, frequent- 
ly spoken of the thing to some of his breth- 
ren; but circumstances did not seem to fa- 
vour the design. He now found that the 
scheme was practicable; and he called a 
meeting of those students who were favour- 
able to it, to adopt measures for its organi- 
zation. It was organized, under a constitu- 
tion which he had brought with him from 
Hamilton College, with some slight altera- 
tions. The design of the society was 4 to 



J. W. BARR. 



f collect facts with respect to the state of the 
Church and the world.' Here was exhibited 
that peculiar spirit of missionary enterprise 
which characterized his whole religious his- 
tory. 

" The members of the society were, at first, 
few in number; consequently, its correspon- 
dence was quite limited. In the little which 
it did accomplish, however, Barr was its 
most efficient agent while he remained in 
college. In a correspondence carried on 
with the ' Missionary Dorcas Society, Mack- 
inaw,' which the society first opened at his 
suggestion, he was exceedingly interested. 
He was to that society, emphatically, what 
Samuel J. Mills was to his associates in An- 
dover. "With the broad surface of the world 
spread out like a chart before him, he 
was distressed at the awful wickedness and 
dark desolations that covered it, and, at the 
same time, was full of joy in the recollec- 
tion that 6 the Lord reigns.' His addresses 
delivered before that society, were full of 
touching interest. 

"It would naturally be expected, that a 



90 



MEMOIR OF 



spirit like Barr's would find high interest in 
the Monthly Concert. "His heart was with 
Jerusalem ;" and no season was more delight- 
ful to him than that holy one, when the voice 
of the Christian world was poured, in united, 
fervent supplications, for the perishing mil- 
lions of our world, into the ear of Jehovah. 
The following extracts from his journal may 
be sufficient on this point. 

u< January 5, 1829. — Attended the month- 
ly concert for prayer this evening. There is 
something calculated to awaken the feelings 
of the soul, in meeting the thousands in 
Christendom around the mercy-seat; having 
in view the one great object — the redemp- 
tion of our world from sin. But when shall 
that blest day arrive? — or when shall the 
Church unitedly put forth an effort corres- 
ponding to the greatness of the object to be 
obtained ? Oh ! when shall the constraining 
love of Jesus impel Christians of the present 
age, to the self-denial, energy, and perse- 
verance of a Paul, in spreading the gospel ? 
Lord, may the constraining love of Jesus so 
pervade my heart, as that I shall not count 



J. W. BARE, 



91 



my life dear unto me, but be willing to spend 
it in thy service, where and how thou seest 
best.' 

"'February 2, 1829.—* * * This evening 
I attended the monthly concert for prayer. 
Only twelve, out of quite a large church and 
congregation, were present. For my own 
part, I know not how they can stay away.' 

"During the winter of 1829-30, the college 
was blessed with a precious outpouring of the 
Spirit of God. Professing Christians were 
much quickened, and sinners, in considerable 
numbers, were anxious to know what they 
should do to be saved. A few were brought, 
as we have reason to believe, into the fold of 
Christ. Through the whole of this interest- 
ing season, Barr was most active in the ser- 
vice of his Master. He encouraged his 
brethren, and strove to remove from them 
everything that might hinder the progress 
of the chariot of salvation. He exhorted 
sinners, visiting them in their rooms ; and 
pressed upon them, in the plainest and most 
faithful manner, the duty of immediate re- 
pentance, and submission to the Lord Jesus 



n 



MEMOIR OF 



Christ. Constantly aware of the need in 
which sinners stood of the agency of the 
Holy Spirit, he was earnest in prayer for 
them, and endeavoured to enlist the feelings 
of his Christian brethren, to pour out con- 
tinual and fervent supplications in their be- 
half. He would frequently assemble together 
a handful of Christians, in some private 
room, and, mentioning to them the case of 
some impenitent sinner, would desire them 
to pray for him while he should go and con- 
verse with him alone. This he did frequent- 
ly, and often with the happiest results. He 
seldom failed of finding access to the hearts 
and consciences of those with whom he 
conversed. Indeed, the students were all 
pleased with his visits, and I do not know 
that he ever met with a really unwelcome 
reception; not because of any desire on 
their part to have their consciences awa- 
kened, but because his manners had always 
been such as to insure to himself the confi- 
dence and respect of all classes. 

" One of those in whose case he took very 
deep interest recently told me what were his 



J. W. BAKE. 



98 



feelings when conversing with him on the 
subject of religion. Barr would press upon 
him the necessity of an immediate attention 
to the concerns of his soul, and he, in return, 
would curse him for his importunity, telling 
him to mind his own business, and let others 
alone. 6 Yet,' says he, ' I always wished 
that he would continue his calls and warn- 
ings/ He did so; and from that time, this 
young friend has given his most serious at- 
tention to the subject of religion, and is now 
a member of the Church of Christ in the 
college. How much he is indebted to Mr. 
Barr's influence will appear in another world. 

" Another, who had for years been scepti- 
cal, was at the same time under serious con- 
cern, and subject to great distress in view of 
his condition as a sinner. He repaired to 
Barr's room, inquiring with great solicitude 
the way to the Saviour of sinners. They 
spent a considerable part of the night to- 
gether, in prayer and conversation. Since 
that time, he, too, has indulged the Chris- 
tian's hope, and become a student of theo- 
logy. 

9 



04 



MEMOIR OF 



"In this excitement, Barr's character as a 
Christian was most clearly exhibited. He 
proved that he felt no confidence in himself, 
nor in any human agency. His eye was 
constantly fixed on the great Head of the 
Church, and his confidence was altogether 
reposed in God. This state of mind led him 
to watch against many of the imprudent 
measures often adopted in times of religious 
excitement, and, at the same time, stimulated 
him to activity in the use of all those means 
that are sanctioned by the word of God. 
Like all other eminent Christians, he placed 
a high value upon prayer. And though 
public meetings were usually frequent, he 
exerted much influence in favour of private 
praying circles, which were held almost 
every morning and evening in different parts 
of the college. I recollect going with him 
one day to the mechanics' shop, for exer- 
cise. The weather was intensely cold, and 
there was no fire in the building. No 
other students assembled for their accus- 
tomed manual labour. After we had spent 
a few minutes at the work-bench, Barr said, 



J. W. BARR. 



95 



c It is too cold to handle tools comfortably ; 
let us spend a season in prayer.' Any 
other than a warm-hearted Christian would 
have thought it too cold also to pray. 

"One thing was worthy of notice in his 
conversation with the anxious. They were 
very frequently calling on him with some 
knotty question in theology, which they de- 
sired him to explain. He would invariably 
strive to lead them away from these hiding- 
places; not, indeed, by denying or covering 
up what he regarded as truth, but by showing 
them that they had duties to perform, and 
that for their conduct God would hold them, 
as free agents, responsible at his tribunal. 
He pointed them to their own guilt, and 
repeated in their ears, " Except ye repent, 
ye shall all likewise perish. " He directed 
them to the Saviour, and urged it upon 
them, as the first duty, to abandon the 
world, and make Christ their Leader and 
their God. Till this was done, nothing was 
done; and speculation on difficult questions 
was all vain, worse than vain, till the first 
lesson was studied. 



96 



MEMOIR OF 



" He graduated in August, 1830; a mem- 
ber of the first class ever sent out from the 
Western Reserve college. On the Sabbath 
preceding commencement, he visited his Sun- 
day-school. I think I shall never forget 
the interesting scene presented, when he 
took his final leave of those beloved scholars. 
He told them he was about to leave them ; 
exhorted them, with the greatest tenderness 
and affection, to become the friends of God; 
to love the Lord Jesus Christ; said that he 
should probably see them no more in this 
world, but hoped to meet them in heaven. 
He fervently commended them to God, and 
then went round the room to bid them indi- 
vidually farewell. The sobs of the children 
told how much they loved him. The whole 
assembly was in tears. He maintained a 
perfect control over his own feelings, till 
just as he was leaving the room, when a lit- 
tle boy came up, took him by the hand, and, 
looking up in his face, asked touchingly, 
6 Shall 1 see you no more?' Barr could 
not answer. His heart had been full, and 
he now gave it vent in audible weeping. He 



J. W. BARR. 



97 



pressed the dear scholar's hand, and with a 
half-uttered — 'I don't know, Henry' — passed 

« _ 99 

on. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Mr. Barr graduated at the Western Reserve 
College, in the autumn of 1830, and soon 
after repaired to Andover, for the purpose 
of prosecuting his theological course, or a 
part of it, in that Seminary. Previously to 
this time, the subject of the place which it 
would be best for him to select for this pur- 
pose, had been, in his father's correspond- 
ence with him, an occasional topic of discus- 
sion. While the prepossessions which he 
had imbibed from his associates in study, 
and the inclinations which he had cherished, 
gave young Barr a strong desire to enter the 
seminary at Andover, the predilections of 
his father had, from various considerations, 
as strongly turned in favour of Princeton. 
9* 



98 



MEMOIR OF 



His father reluctantly consented that 
Joseph should go to Andover. He was 
afterwards convinced that he did well in so 
doing. He subsequently said, "I believe 
now the Lord has work for me to do in that 
region, the fruit of which will abide the day 
of trial." 

At Andover he entered with zeal upon 
the prosecution of his studies, and upon the 
work of doing good to others. He engaged 
at once in the work of Sabbath-school in- 
struction. He thus speaks of his impres- 
sions in regard to the seminary: "I am 
very much pleased with my situation in this 
sacred seminary. The facilities for acquir- 
ing knowledge are very great — a good libra- 
ry, the best of instruction, interesting so- 
ciety. All I need, to make respectable 
attainments, is diligence in business, and 
fervency in spirit." 

During the spring vacation at Andover, 
his circumstances required that he should 
work at his trade for wages. He was em- 
ployed by Mr. Row, of Groton, Massachu- 
setts. Rev. John Todd, then the minister of 



J. W. BAKE. 



99 



the place, writes : " He came to my house 
an entire stranger. He was out of health, 
and came and spent a vacation with us. 
And how think you did he spend it? On 
the couch, taking gentle exercise, and 6 light 
medicines V No. He hired himself out as a 
carpenter, and a better, or a more diligent and 
faithful workman, was hardly ever known. 
The family where he resided can hardly 
speak of him without tears. On leaving us, 
he carried with him more of the heart and 
good wishes, and more of substantial tokens 
of confidence from his Christian friends, than 
if he had spent it in any other manner. He 
carried away, too, a good stock of health." 

After remaining at Andover one year, he 
left the institution, and connected himself 
with the Theological Seminary at Princeton. 
The reasons which led to this step are not 
fully stated. One object probably was, the 
hope of increasing the missionary spirit in 
the church to which he belonged. 

The reader of the preceding pages will 
have seen that his thoughts had frequently 
been directed to the subject of Foreign Mis- 



100 



MEMOIR OP 



sions. Soon after his arrival at Andover, 
lie wrote to a friend, "Last Sabbath evening 
I took tea at Mr. Flint's, where Obookiah 
lived several months; and, on the same 
evening, attended conference in the school- 
room, where Gordon Hall, Mills, Parsons, 
and Fisk, used to attend. It seemed like 
standing on holy ground. I was not a little 
affected by the associations that were awak- 
ened.' * 

His father, learning that he had thoughts 
of devoting himself to the work of preach- 
ing the gospel to the heathen, wrote to 
him, admonishing him to weigh the matter 
well. "I hope," said Mr. Barr, senior, 
"you may do nothing rashly in this mat- 
ter. In my view, there is scarcely any- 
thing demanding more calm, deliberate, and 
prayerful consideration, than that of an in- 
dividual devoting himself to missionary ser- 
vices among the heathen. ' Sit down and 
count the cost.' Are you willing, are you 
able, to encounter and endure, for the sake 
of Christ and souls, what must, in a greater 
or less degree, be endured by every mission- 



J. W. BARR. 



101 



ary to the heathen? May the Lord of the 
harvest direct you. Your affectionate fa- 
ther." 

In a letter to his father, Joseph writes: 
"You ask. Shall I become a Presbyterian 
missionary? Perhaps I may. But, I con- 
fess, I am nearly sick and tired of hearing 
some say, I am of Apollos, and others, I 
am of Paul. I not unfrequently wish my- 
self in some dark, obscure corner of our 
guilty world, where I might preach Jesus 
and him crucified, to my dying fellow-men, 
without hearing of wars, martial, political, 
or religious. If I am only permitted to la- 
bour among the benighted heathen, I care 
not what they call me; it is all the same 
thing. The object is what I want to look 
at — preaching the gospel to every creature." 

In a letter dated Princeton, December, 
1831, noticing that a missionary spirit was 
on the increase in the Seminary, he adds, "I 
am rejoiced to see that a missionary spirit is 
beginning to spring up in the Presbyterian 
Church. Our denomination has too long 
slumbered over the wants and cries of a 



102 



MEMOIR OF 



dying world. It is time, and high time, she 
should awake and do something. I rejoice 
to see them devising ways in which they can 
do something for the heathen. What will 
be the result of the Foreign Missionary So- 
ciety of the Synod of Pittsburgh? Will 
that subject be brought before the General 
Assembly next spring? There is one subject 
which now agitates my mind a good deal, 
and in reference to which I would earnestly 
ask an interest in your prayers. It is the 
delicate and momentous subject of matri- 
mony. Should I go to the heathen, as I 
hope the Lord will send me, it is time I 
should know who would be my companion in 
labour, and participator in my joys and sor- 
rows. I feel that this is a subject of deep 
importance, not only to myself as an indi- 
vidual, but to the interests of missions. It 
takes hold on eternity. I am under no en- 
gagements. I remember the inscription on 
mother's tombstone, and often lately have 
repeated that expression on it, 4 A prudent 
wife is from the Lord;' and I hope I feel it 
in some measure/ 9 



J. W. BARR. 



103 



In March, 1832, he wrote as follows: 
"Dear and affectionate Father — Your inter- 
esting letter of last month I received in due 
season, but as I had just written to you an 
account of my visit to Philadelphia, (he had 
spent two weeks there as a city missionary,) 
I have not hastened to answer it. I should 
be happy, indeed, to come and spend my 
summer vacation with you, were it in my 
power, but there is no railroad running from 
here to Cincinnati and Monroe ; and if there 
was, my empty purse would present an in- 
surmountable barrier to my visit. Having 
decided, as I trust from a sense of duty, to 
spend my days in some heathen clime, if it 
is the will of the great Head of the Church, 
I feel desirous of enjoying the society of my 
friends before I leave my native soil. And 
never did they appear so near to me, as 
since I have come to the determination of 
leaving them, probably never to see any of 
them again, till we meet with an assembled 
universe around the judgment-seat of Christ, 
In a walk, the other day, I was thinking 
about you and the family, especially those 



104 



MEMOIR, OF 



•who give no evidence of having an interest 
in Jesus Christ ; and my feelings almost 
overwhelmed me. If I could but believe 
that all our family were truly pious, and 
would finally meet where sin and sorrow will 
for ever cease, I could think of the separation 
with comparative calmness; though, even 
then, the thought of never seeing each other 
on earth would be painful. Where I shall 
labour in the missionary field, I know not. 
What would you think of my going to Cen- 
tral Africa, under the Board at Pittsburgh? 
One brother here is now accepted by that 
Board, and expects to go to Africa. He 
would be glad to have me conclude to go 
with him. My own feelings lead me to 
South America or Southern Asia. I believe, 
however, I am willing to go even among the 
Hottentots. I trust the Lord will direct me 
to the proper field. " 

Early in August he wrote, requesting his 
father's prayers and counsel in regard to 
the proposal made to go out on an exploring 
mission to Africa, under the Board, in the 
following manner: 



J. W. BARE. 



105 



"Pbinceton, August 11, 1832. 

"My Bear Father — While the 'pestilence 
that walketh in darkness, and the destruc- 
tion that wasteth at noon-day/ is destroying 
its hundred and thousands around me, I am 
still permitted to enjoy good health. 

" There have been five or six deaths in 
Princeton by the cholera; none of the 
citizens — all labourers on the canal. I 
watched with one of the poor fellows one 
night. He suffered much ; symptoms such 
as you have seen described in the reports of 
physicians in the public journals. 

"The pestilence is less destructive in New 
York now than formerly, but is increasing 
in Philadelphia. It is also quite severe in 
Trenton, in this State. But I leave this 
subject for the more important one of mis- 
sions. The moral pestilence of sin, which is 
making such wide and fearful ruin among 
our fellow men, is worse than the cholera. 
No medicine can cure the latter; but for the 
former we have in the gospel a sovereign 
remedy; and Christians have been com- 
manded by the great Physician of souls to 
10 



106 



MEMOIR OF 



carry it to all who are infected with the 
disease. But how negligent have they been 
in obeying this command ! 

" c Millions there are, on heathen ground, 
Who never heard the gospel's sound.' 

"It may be that the course you suggest is 
the best, and perhaps the only one which 
will ever wake the Presbyterian Church to 
action as a body, and in its distinctive cha- 
racter: that of young men devoting them- 
selves to carrying the gospel to the hea- 
then, and then calling on the Presbyterian 
churches to support them. I frankly con- 
fess, I do not think that I am qualified for a 
reformer in the Presbyterian Church, on the 
subject of missions. 

"I may still see and feel it to be my duty, 
to engage under the Board at Pittsburgh. 
They think of sending a mission to Africa. 
One brother in this seminary has given him- 
self up to their direction, who expects to go 
to Africa. He has often been at me, to 
accompany him. Dr. Alexander has several 
times hinted to me, that I had better go 
there. Several days since, Brother Pinney, 



J. W. BARR. 



107 



(who is the one who thinks of going to Afri- 
ca,) gave me a letter from Rev. E. P. Swift 
to read, respecting their operations and his 
going to Africa. I remarked to him that 
the Board had better send out two mission- 
aries, as explorers to Africa, who could 
select a field, and make a report of what 
was necessary. After examining the coun- 
try, and selecting sites of missionary sta- 
tions, they might return or not, just as it 
was deemed best. To-day brother Pinney 
came to me with the question, whether I 
would be willing to become one of those ex- 
plorers, provided the Board approved the 
plan. He stated that he had seen both Drs. 
Miller and Alexander, who thought that the 
very best plan the Board could adopt. This 
deputation, they think, had better be sent 
this fall, or early next spring; or rather, at 
the time when it is considered most healthy 
along the coast. A letter has been de- 
spatched to the American Colonization So- 
ciety, to ascertain this point. Now, what 
must I say or do in reference to this sub- 



108 



MEMOIR OF 



ject? God has given me a robust body, 
sound constitution, some decision, persever- 
ance, and energy of character. This course 
will bring the subject directly before the 
Presbyterian churches. They will have an 
object to look at. Ought I to go, provided 
the measure meets the concurrence of the 
Board? It has brought the subject up 
before my mind more as a reality than ever 
before. Of course I cannot decide at once. 
I must have some time to pray and think 
over the subject, and consult with judicious 
friends. I am glad to have this early oppor- 
tunity of laying the subject before you, for 
advice and consideration. I hope you will 
not fail of answering me immediately. If it 
should seem to be duty, I think I shall re- 
joice to go; not doubting but the grace of 
God would enable me to bear all the trials 
which it would subject me to. for wisdom 
from on high to guide me ! 

" Should I see it my duty to go to Africa 
soon, I shall expect, (Deo volente,) to spend 
a few weeks at home first." 



J. W. BARE. 



109 



« September 5th, 1832. 

"Dear and affectionate Father — I have 
been looking with some anxiety for a letter 
from you, for some days past, but it has not 
yet come. I send this line to inform you 
that circumstances have transpired which I 
suppose will throw me once more into a 
father's arms, in a few days. In a com- 
munication received this week from the Mis- 
sionary Board at Pittsburgh, I received the 
intelligence that if I would consent to go to 
Africa, they would send an exploring mis- 
sion this fall. After seeking divine guid- 
ance, and consulting my Professors, who were 
unanimous in the opinion that I had better 
go, I have written to the Board that I will 
accept of their proposals, and go, if no other 
obstacles opposed than I knew of then. I 
expect now to be in Pittsburgh next week, 
on my way home — shall only be able to 
spend a few days with you. But then I go 
with the expectation of returning after hav- 
ing explored that dark and benighted coun- 
try. I trust our Heavenly Father will pre- 
pare us both for meeting and for separating. 
10* 



110 



MEMOIR OF 



4 His grace will be sufficient for us.' Unless 
something special occurs, I shall probably be 
at home about the 19th or 20th. I need not 
ask an interest in your prayers. I believe 
I have, and will especially have them, in 
view of what seems now before me. I should 
have been exceedingly glad to have had your 
prayers and counsels while I was deciding 
so momentous a matter. But that was im- 
practicable, under existing circumstances; 
and I trust when you come to see and hear 
all the case, you will also approve the course 
I have taken." 

It is hardly necessary to remark that his 
course received his father's warmest appro- 
bation. 



CHAPTER IX. 

The name of Mr. Barr had been brought 
before the Executive Committee of the West- 
ern Foreign Missionary Society, as a suit- 
able person to become Mr. Pinney's associ- 
ate in the African expedition. They decided 



J. W. BARE. 



Ill 



that in case Mr. Barr consented to go, ar- 
rangements should be made to send them 
early in the following autumn. 

In the following letter, Mr. Barr's conclu- 
sion was made known to the committee. 

" Princeton, Sept. 5, 1832. 

"Mev. and Bear Sir — The conclusion of 
your Board, in reference to sending a mis- 
sion to Africa this fall, was laid before me 
on Monday last. It placed me in a pecu- 
liarly solemn and trying situation. Should 
I conclude to accept the proposition and go 
with brother Pinney, I must break up all my 
present plans, forego the advantages of a 
year's preparation for the work of missions, 
which I felt I needed, and which I had de- 
signed to obtain — leave my friends and coun- 
try with only a few weeks' notice, and en- 
gage in an arduous, responsible, and in 
some degree hazardous mission. 

"On the other hand, should I not con- 
clude to go, the operations of your society 
would be retarded another year ; the churches 
having no specific object to look at and 



112 



MEMOIR OF 



arouse them, would still slumber, and a dark y 
benighted continent remain still longer with- 
out the gospel. Need I say, there was a 
struggle in my bosom ? 

"After seeking divine direction and con- 
sulting my Professors, I have decided to 
oflFer myself to your Board. In doing this, 
I act in accordance with the unanimous 
opinion of my respected and beloved instruc- 
tors, as well as with what seemed to be the 
teachings of God's Spirit on my own mind. 
I have not had an opportunity of consulting 
my honoured father on this particular ques- 
tion. I know, however, his feelings towards 
your Board, and in respect to my engaging 
in the work of missions ; so that I suppose 
it will be in accordance with his views of my 
duty in this case, however trying it may be 
to his feelings to give his son up so soon. I 
shall write to him to-day. 

"After consulting Drs. Alexander and 
Miller, it is thought best that I proceed 
immediately to the West, and visit my 
friends. 

"I shall, therefore, expect to be in Pitts- 



J. W. BARR. 



113 



burgh next week, a clay or two after you have 
received this communication; if nothing spe- 
cial should occur, probably on the 13th, 

" 1 shall then bring with me testimonials 
from my Professors here. If you wish any 
others, I would refer you to my Professors 
at the Western Reserve College, Hudson, 
Ohio; also my pastor, the Rev. Stephen 
Peet, Euclid, Ohio. 

" As I hope to see you in person soon, I 
add no more, except to ask an interest in 
your prayers. I feel the need of them, dear 
sir, in the work before me. 
Your affectionate brother, 

Joseph W. Barr. 

Rev. E. P. Swift." 

When we consider the perilous character 
of this enterprise, and the brief period 
which could be allowed him to remain in 
this country, if this determination was form- 
ed, we cannot fail of being struck with the 
devoted zeal and heroic firmness which led 
this young man instantly to abandon his fa- 
vourite studies, bid a final adieu to his be- 
loved teachers and fellow-students, and at 



114 



MEMOIR OF 



once engage in the most cheerful and active 
manner to prepare for his intended voyage 
to Africa. He felt that his Master's busi- 
ness required haste, and how intimately con- 
nected with the moral influence of his cha- 
racter, upon the churches and the minds of 
the young men who are to follow him, was 
this part of his conduct ! The record of the 
two last months of his life, commencing with 
this prompt decision, will long be, it is to be 
hoped, a blessing to that cause in which he 
fell. On leaving Princeton, Mr. Barr was 
handed the following introductory letter to 
the Committee, by one of his venerable 
teachers. 

"Princeton, Sept. 10, 1832. 

"Mev. and Dear Sir — This letter will be 
handed to you by Mr. Joseph W. Barr, who 
has offered himself to your Board as a mis- 
sionary to the interior of Africa. He is 
greatly esteemed among us, and leaves us 
to visit his friends, and prepare for the voy- 
age, with the cordial affection and the fer- 
vent prayers of all the friends of the Re- 
deemer's kingdom, who know him. We 



J. W. BARR. 



115 



trust he will prove 'a chosen vessel/ destined 
to bear with a rich blessing, the treasures of 
divine mercy to thousands of the perishing 
heathen. That the great Head of the 
Church may graciously preside over your 
Board, and make this, its first enterprise, a 
rich blessing to the world, is the unfeigned 
prayer of, Rev. and dear sir, your brother 
in Christ, Samuel Miller.'' 

Mr. Barr, having come to the conclusion 
that it was his duty to leave his studies, 
and enter at once on the missionary work, 
bade his fellow students adieu, and set out 
for Pittsburgh, to meet with the Executive 
Committee of the Missionary Society, and 
to visit his father and relatives, preparatory 
to taking his departure for Africa. 

The following account of his farewell to 
the students, is from the pen of one who 
was present: "X cannot well forget that ten- 
der and most solemn meeting which we last 
enjoyed with our brother Joseph. It was 
on the morning of his departure — it was 
then, I think, or the night before — that 



116 



MEMOIR OF 



Joseph arose, and after having made a 
few remarks, concluded with something like 
the following: 4 Brethren, after much de- 
liberation and prayer, I have determined 
upon what seems to me to be the path of 
duty. I go to the work, not knowing what 
shall befall me ; perhaps my bones are soon 
to lie whitening on the plains of Africa, be- 
neath some palm tree; perhaps I shall fall 
before my work is well commenced; but 
I trust in God. Follow me, brethren, with 
your prayers.' He was called upon by one 
of the Professors to pray. There was an 
uncommon flow of feeling in his prayer. I 
wept, though not given to weeping, and 
others too did weep. God bless our brother, 
was our secret prayer, and then we parted.'' 
He arrived at Pittsburgh on the 14th of 
September. He bore to the Committee the 
following letter from his Professors : 

To the Executive Committee of the Western Board of 
Foreign Missions. 

Bear Brethren — Having understood that 
Mr. Joseph W. Barr, a student of this Semi- 



Jo W. BARR. 



117 



nary, and a licentiate of New Brunswick 
Presbytery, has offered himself as a mission- 
ary to Central Africa, under the direction 
of your Board, we take pleasure in attesting, 
that the religious and moral character of 
Mr. Barr is excellent, that his mind is vigor- 
ous and well balanced, and that his literary 
and theological attainments are highly re- 
spectable. 

46 It is true, his theological course has not 
been completed, but as he has been seriously 
occupied with theological subjects ever since 
he commenced a course of liberal education, 
he has acquired a maturity in his religious 
knowledge, superior to what is common in 
our licentiates. In our opinion, Mr. Barr is 
eminently qualified to go on an exploring 
expedition to Africa. He enjoys a vigorous 
state of health, much firmness and energy 
of mind; and, if we are not deceived, will 
unite with much prudence, a spirit of activi- 
ty and enterprise. It is no small recom- 
mendation, that he has been brought up to 
labour, and that the habit of working at his 
11 



118 



MEMOIR OF 



trade has not been entirely relinquished 
during his academical and theological course. 

"Mr. Barr is, besides, a good writer, and 
a man whose communications to the Board 
will be judicious, and such as will command 
entire confidence. We do, therefore, cor- 
dially recommend Mr. Barr, as a suitable 
person to be employed in the important mis- 
sion which is in prospect. 

"With great respect, we are yours, &c. 

A. Alexander, 
Samuel Miller, 
C. Hodge." 

He also bore to his father, whose residence 
he reached on the 20th, the following letter 
from the Rev. Dr. Alexander : 

" Princeton, September 10, 1832. 

"Mev. and Dear Sir — The time has arrived 
which will put your parental feelings to a 
trial somewhat severe. Your son Joseph 
has determined to go on a distant, danger- 
ous, and highly important enterprise. It 
was with reluctance that I yielded to the 



J. W. BARE. 



119 



plan of his curtailing his theological course 
one whole year; because I am persuaded 
that he would have made good use of that 
time in improving his knowledge, and laying 
up stores which might be useful in the work 
of the ministry. But the call of his Master 
to go forth now, seemed to be clear ; and 
the truth is, Joseph is better qualified for 
the high calling to which he aspires, than 
nine-tenths of those who take this sacred 
office upon them. If the Lord spares his 
life, I think he will become eminent in the 
missionary field. Since he has been with 
us, we have had no occasion, less or more, 
to find fault with him. His conduct, as far 
as we know, has been in all respects becom- 
ing his profession and situation; and it 
affords me unfeigned pleasure to say, that, 
in my opinion, he is sound in the faith. His 
examination on theology, conducted before 
our Presbytery by President Carnahan, gave 
entire satisfaction. 

"I have been very cautious about advising 
your son to undertake this expedition, for I 
know it must be attended with extreme dan- 



120 



MEMOIR OF 



ger of life and health; but of this he is 
fully aware, and seems to have his heart 
fortified against every fear and every dan- 
ger. I consider the enterprise to be one of 
the most interesting which can be under- 
taken. It has relation to a whole continent, 
which for centuries has been buried in deep- 
est darkness. The young man who is to be 
the companion of your son, and who has 
exerted himself much to induce him to re- 
solve on this mission, is a person peculiarly 
well qualified for such a work. He is bold, 
cheerful, patient of labour, and zealous for 
the conversion of the world. May the Lord 
go with them and prosper them! Engage 
all your pious friends to set apart special 
times of prayer, for the blessing of God oil 
this enterprise. I am, respectfully, yours, 

A. Alexander." 

Mr. Barr's arrangements allowed him to 
spend but a brief season with his father and 
western friends. " We had," said his father, 
"an affectionate, and, I trust, a profitable 
interview. While we tried to hope that we 



J. W. BARE. 



121 



might meet again on earth, we felt and 
prayed together as though we should not." 

During the few days spent among his 
western friends, he was abundant in la- 
bours; preaching on the Sabbath, and on 
other days, addressing Sabbath-schools, and 
striving in every way to promote the great 
object to which his life was devoted. 

On the 11th of September, he arrived in 
Philadelphia. On the evening of the 12th, 
in the presence of a large and solemn assem- 
bly, he, in connection with Mr. Pinney, was 
ordained by the Presbytery of Philadelphia. 
The Rev. Dr. Archibald Alexander preached 
the sermon, and Dr. Miller gave the charge. 

He spent the next Sabbath in New York, 
where he preached twice, and early the next 
week proceeded to Norfolk, whence he ex- 
pected to sail as early as the 25th of Octo- 
ber. From that place he wrote his last let- 
ter to the Secretary of the Society. 

" Norfolk, Oct. 23, 1832. 

"Dear Brother Swift — We arrived here 
to-day, and find the vessel will not sail till 
11* 



122 



MEMOIR 02 s 



near the fifth of next month. I desired to 
embark immediately, but the will of our 
heavenly Father be done. He has some- 
thing, I hope, for us to do in the churches 
yet, before we leave. Brother Pinney will 
state our views. 

"Dear brother, I find the preparations 
for our voyage and living in Africa have 
buried me almost in worldly business. I 
shall be glad when I can set foot on heathen 
ground, although I often feel very unfit for 
the arduous work before me. And now, 
dear brother, I ask again an interest in your 
prayers. Oh, forget us not; we need your 
prayers. You are not forgotten by us ; I 
feel cheerful and happy in anticipation of 
what is before me. Your brother and fellow- 
labourer in the Lord, 

Joseph W. Baku." 

Three days after writing the above letter, 
he was in eternity ! 

As the ship did not sail so soon as was 
expected, Mr. Barr went on Friday to Rich- 
mond, and in the afternoon of the same day 



J. W. BARE. 



123 



to Petersburg, to make an appointment to 
preach. On Saturday morning he returned 
to Richmond, where he expected to preach on 
the Sabbath. On Saturday night he was 
taken with the cholera, and died about the 
middle of the afternoon of the next day. 

The following letters to his afflicted father 
give the particulars of his decease. 

"Richmond, Oct. 28, 1832. 

"Rev. and Dear Sir — How precious is the 
truth, that we have in heaven a great High 
Priest who can be touched with a feeling of 
our infirmities, having been in all points 
tempted as we are — a Brother, indeed, who 
has learned by experience what it is to obey 
in the midst of sufferings ! And how infi- 
nitely important that we, who by our office 
are so often called to administer consolation 
to the afflicted, should ourselves be able to 
sympathize with them! But how can this 
be, unless we have tasted of the bitter cup ? 
Nay, how can we know how to estimate the 
bitterness of that cup which our Saviour 
drank of, for our sakes, unless we have 
drunk some portion of it ourselves? But 



124 



MEMOIR OF 



why should I dwell upon these things, when 
doubtless 6 the anointing which you have re- 
ceived of Him abideth in you, and you need 
not that any man teach you, but as the 
same anointing teacheth you in all things.' 

" Yet, my dear sir, I do feel disposed to 
linger upon these truths, before I come to 
the subject-matter of this letter. I now 
feel regret, that I did not take a few mo- 
ments this morning to despatch a letter, an- 
nouncing the illness of your son, that that 
letter might be a precursor of the afflictive 
intelligence which it is my painful duty to 
communicate in this. Yet, had you not lent 
him to the Lord, to be the instrument of 
promoting his glory in any way that his infi- 
nite wisdom should see fit ! Were you not as 
willing that he should go home to his Master 
from the American, as from the African 
shore, if that would be the most acceptable 
method of finishing the work which the 
Lord had given him to do? 'Even so, Fa- 
ther, for so it seemeth good in thy sight.' 

"The facts which I have to communicate 
are few. Your dear son, now I trust with 



J. W. BARR. 



125 



Christ, arrived in this city on Thursday. 
After calling on some few friends to his par- 
ticular branch of the cause of Christ, he 
visited me for a few minutes, settled ar- 
rangements for the services of to-day, and 
on Friday, P. M., went to Petersburg to 
make similar arrangements there ; returned 
on Saturday morning; called on me again 
about sunset yesterday, (*'. e., Saturday); 
left me in apparent good health and spirits. 
He had taken lodgings under the hospitable 
roof of Mr. John N. Gordon, of this city, 
whose circumstances were such, both as to 
disposition and ability, as to do everything 
which could be done for the comfort of his 
guest. About five o'clock this morning, Mr. 
Gordon waked me, saying that your son had 
been taken ill in the night. I soon visited 
him, and found Mr. Gordon and Mrs. Gor- 
don, with others of their family, in assidu- 
ous attention upon him; but he was evi- 
dently in the grasp of a severe attack of 
that malignant disease which has been rav- 
aging many parts of this country. I thought 
his case hopeful at first, having had medical 



126 



MEMOIR OP 



attendance of the best character at a very 
early hour after the attack, but the disease 
continued its ravages until about the middle 
of the afternoon, when God released him. 
I am satisfied that nothing which could have 
been done, with prospect of success, was 
omitted. His distress, as is always the case 
in this disease, was great; but, I think, less 
than in some other cases which I have wit- 
nessed. 

"Monday, 29th. — To-day his remains were 
carried, at eleven o'clock, to the First Pres- 
byterian Church, and a larger assemblage 
than usual were gathered. The Rev. Mr. 
Armstrong being absent, I endeavoured to 
make the occasion profitable by a discourse 
from Rev. xxii. 20, which were the last 
words I heard him utter, and he seemed to 
utter them with a cordiality which bespoke 
the state of his mind. Mr. Gordon will 
give you more particulars. Wishing you 
the consolation and supports of the gospel, I 
subscribe myself, 

" Your brother in the gospel ministry, 

Stephen Taylor." 



J. W. BARR. 



127 



"Richmond, October 31, 1832. 

"Bev. and Bear Sir — You will, no doubt, 
before this reaches you, have received a letter 
from Mr. Taylor, containing the melancholy 
intelligence of the death of your son; but 
believing that every particular relating to 
the illness and death of one so deservedly 
dear to his friends, will be gratifying, and 
Mr. Gordon being very much occupied, I 
have determined to write, and, as far as I 
can recollect, give all the particulars of Mr. 
Barr's visit to us — his sickness and death. 

" If the sympathy of strangers can afford 
any consolation to his bereaved parent, 
brothers, sisters, and friends, be assured 
you have it. 

" Mr. Barr arrived at Richmond, from 
Norfolk, last Thursday; dined with us on 
Friday; went to Petersburg the same after- 
noon, to make an appointment to preach ; 
returned the next morning, and remained 
with us until his death. 

"Even the short space of time that he so- 
journed with us was sufficient to endear him 
to my heart. I have never met with a 



128 



MEMOIR OF 



stranger for whom I had formed a greater 
attachment, and in whom I felt a deeper 
interest. His humility, his softness of man- 
ner, and above all, his ardent piety, and 
entire devotion to the service of his Re- 
deemer, called forth the warmest feelings of 
respect and love for him, from us all. But 
I, who know comparatively nothing of his 
character, need say nothing more on this 
subject to those who knew him well. 

44 When he retired to rest on Saturday 
night, little did we think what another day 
would bring forth ! He was unwell, when he 
went to bed, but said nothing about it. He 
aroused us late in the night. I immediately 
went to his bed-side, and found him suffering 
with that most dreadful of all diseases that 
I have ever seen, the cholera; but I hoped 
he was in the early stage of the disease, and 
that it might be speedily arrested. The 
usual medicine and remedies were applied 
as soon as they could be procured, by two 
skilful physicians, and everything was done 
that we^ could do to relieve him ; but vain 
was the help of man ! As soon as I thought 



J. W. BAKR. 



129 



him in danger, I asked him if his mind was 
composed and at peace. He replied that it 
was. And although he did not then seem 
to think he was going to die, he manifested 
entire resignation to the will of God. 

" The Rev. Mr. Taylor visited him as soon 
as it was day, and conversed and prayed 
with him; and he has given you a much 
better account than I can, of what passed 
between them. 

" Our Christian brethren visited him, and 
paid him every attention that they could 
pay a brother beloved. Early on Sabbath 
morning, he asked me if it was not Sabbath 
morning. On my replying in the affirma- 
tive, he replied, 'I cannot sing, Welcome 
sweet day of rest, now.' I asked him if he 
would like to hear it sung. He said, 6 Yes.' 
And as well as I could, under such affecting 
circumstances, I and Mr. Gordon (who came 
into the room soon after) sung it for him. 
He, very early in the day, became so com- 
pletely prostrated, and the general distress 
of his body was so great, that he could say 
but little more. 
12 



130 



MEMOIR OF 



"He once afterwards requested the breth- 
ren to sing and pray with him, but was imme- 
diately seized with cramps, which prevented 
it at that time ; but prayer was offered after- 
wards. Oh ! I shall never forget his looks, 
while I live; and although his sufferings 
must have been very great, he bore them 
with much patience. 

"I asked him if there was any thing that 
he wanted, or that I could do more for him. 
He looked at me with an expression of coun- 
tenance that I cannot describe, and said, 
6 You are very kind, and I want to express 
my gratitude to you all, while I can.' These 
were about the last words that he said to 
me. About this time, he said to the Rev. 
Mr. Converse, who asked him if he felt pre- 
pared to meet the change that seemed to 
await him — ' The blood of Jesus Christ 
cleanseth from all sin.' Once, while I was 
sitting at his bedside rubbing his hands, he 
said to me, ' I am afraid you will get sick/ 
But 0, what would I not have done to have 
saved his life ! And now I find it hard to 
be resigned. that I, as well as all who 



J. W. BARR. 



131 



loved him, may be enabled to say from the 
heart, the will of the Lord be done! He 
retained his senses to the last, but was 
unable to speak for some time before he 
died, which was about half-past 3 o'clock 
on Sabbath afternoon; and thus, this Sab- 
bath, begun by him in so much suffering, 
ended in that Sabbath of rest that never 
ends. May you, and all the members of his 
bereaved family, derive much consolation 
from this reflection, and the hope, that though 
he is dead, he yet speaketh for the cause of 
missions ; especially for benighted, oppressed, 
and degraded Africa. Mr. Gordon will add 
a few lines, and state what arrangements 
have been made about his clothes, papers, 
money, &c. We have kept some of his hair, 
and will put it with his clothes, after retain- 
ing some for oursslves. Mr. Taylor preached 
his funeral sermon on Monday, from these 
words — ' He which testifieth these things 
saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even 
so come, Lord Jesus!' — which were the last 
words we heard him utter. The hymns sung 
on the occasion were, the 90th Psalm, long 



132 



MEMOIR OP J. W. BARE. 



metre — 1st, 2d, 3d, 5th, and 8th verses; the 
12th and 566th of the Village Collection. 
And now, may you be supported and com- 
forted under this severe affliction, is the 
prayer of one who deeply sympathizes with 
you. Louisiana Gordon." 

We have thus set before the reader an 
account of the life of one who was called 
home from the threshold of his work. Why 
did God cut down one whose prospects of 
usefulness were so flattering ? It is not for 
us to know. He doeth ail things well. Our 
concern is with duty, and not with the de- 
signs of God, except so far as he sees fit to 
reveal them. 

Let his example stimulate us to greater 
diligence in duty. Let us, like him, be ever 
engaged and active in the Lord's work. 
Then when death comes, it will not surprise 
us : we shall enter into the joy of our Lord* 



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